"The Mentawai administration will establish superior schools..."
Padang (ANTARA News) - Mentawai Islands district administration in West Sumatra has prepared six prioritized programs in effort to enhance development of the region, the district head has said.

The six programs are Trans Mentawai, Superior Schools, Integrated Community Health Centre, Real sector of economic development, Infrastructures, and Bright Mentawai, the district regent Yudas Sabaggalet said here on Wednesday.

According to him, the Trans Mentawai program is a means to connect four major islands in the district namely Siberut, Sipora, Pagai Utara and Pagai Selatan so that cars can pass by all the four islands.

If adequate roads can be constructed in the islands and followed by ports development, so that ferry can be operated to connect the islands, he noted.

In addition, the Mentawai administration will establish superior schools, so that the district`s younger generation can continue their studies to the higher level.

Data showed that only six percent out of the Mentawai district`s 86,491 people, who are graduated from Senior High Schools (SMA).

As such, by studying at the superior schools, their graduates will be able to continue their studies at the noted universities in the country, Yudas said.

Apart from that, the development of integrated community health centres will take place in Sikakap, Sioban, Siberut Selatan and Siberut Utara, so that the local residents should no longer go to the district capital town or to Padang for medical treatment.

On the real sector of economic development, the regent said that his administration will empower the small and medium scale businesses in order to be developed, particularly the sea-based economic growth, because 90 percent of Mentawai`s territories are coastal areas.

The local government has also planned to develop more roads and increase electricity supply in all villages in the district.
(Uu.B003/A014)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2013