POHUWATO REGENCY, Kominfotik – President “Joko Widodo” launched Panua Airport at Imbodu village, Randangan sub-district, Pohuwato regency, Monday (22/4/2024) by siren sound as a symbol. There were also minister of transportation Budi Karya Sumadi, Minister of Public Work and Public Housing (PUPR) Basuki Hadi Muljono, Acting Governor Ismail Pakaya and Pohuwato regent Saipul Mbuinga.
President Jokowi arrived at Panua airport around 07.51 central indonesia time by City Link aircraft from Djalaluddin Gorontalo airport. Soon Jokowi’a agenda to inspect the terminal building at the airport and listened to the Minister Budi Karya delivering his speech.
“Because in the future it will not be a big country will compete with a small country but a rapid country will conquer a slow country. Therefore we need to be fast. I am glad that Panua Airport in Pohuwato has been completed. Earlier, the Minister of Transportation delivered that it spent IDR 473 billion. It’s really big money,” Jokowi added.
The former DKI Governor assessed that the length of the runway, which is only 1,200 x 30 meters, is still very short. He asked the Minister of Transportation to extend it so that other types of aircraft can land.
Meanwhile, Indonesian Minister of Transportation Budi Karya conveyed that Panua Pohuwato Airport is the 25th of 27 airports built. The airport, which has been built since 2015, has a budget of Rp437.4 billion.
“This is one of the legacies of Mr. President who always gives directions to us to build airports in all corners of the country. We also report that the budget to build arround Rp437 billion, because the land is relatively not good so we need to make improvements from this land,” Budi closed.
Panua Airport has a number of important facilities including a 1200m x 30m runway, 15m x 170m taxiway and 110m x 70m apron. The terminal building measures 990m² with the largest aircraft that can fly and land the ATR 72-600 type.
The construction of Panua Airport has started since 2015 and will be completed in 2024. The pioneer airport cost a total of Rp437.4 billion, part of which was financed through the mechanism of financial intrument based on Syariah (SBSN).
Reporter : Isam
Translated by Fera Katili
