"The new flat blocks are being constructed to offer affordable and proper dwelling for low-income residents, students, civil servants, and military or police officers stationed in remote and border areas," Minister Basuki Hadimuljono noted in a written statement received in Jakarta on Thursday.
Apart from boosting economic growth in the region, the construction of new housing for residents also aims to enhance the residents' quality of life, the minister remarked
The ministry will build six new flat blocks in South Sumatra by this year. From the six flat buildings, one flat block will serve as lodging for students of the University of Sriwijaya, two flat blocks will be allocated for students of Islamic schools, and three flat blocks for civil servants.
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Construction of new flat blocks align with President Joko Widodo's mandate to help low-income residents attain their first home, the ministry's Directorate General on House Provision Head, Khalawi Abdul Hamid, affirmed.
"We will continue to build flat blocks for low-income residents, civil servants, and students," Hamid asserted.
The ministry reported that the work to construct a new flat block in the University of Sriwijaya in Palembang, capital of South Sumatra province, had reached 35.2-percent completion. The new flat complex will contain 43 units.
The progress in construction of flats used as boarding facilities for Islamic school students have reached 91.8-percent completion for a flat at the Sayyid Hanim Islamic School in East Ogan Komering Ulu District, while a flat in Bait Al-Qur'an Islamic School in Ogan Komering Ilir District is 57.6-percent complete, the ministry noted.
Three new flat blocks allocated to civil servants are in varying stages of construction. A flat block for East Ogan Komering Ulu District’s civil servants is ready, while the work to build a 64-unit flat block for Banyuasin District’s civil servants has reached 26.9-percent completion. The tender process for a new flat block for South Sumatra Higher Prosecutor Office's staff is underway.
The total budget allocated for the construction of six new flat blocks in South Sumatra reaches Rp102.86 billion (around US$7 million), according to the ministry.
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Translator: Aji Cakti, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Suharto
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