TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) affirmed that the construction of permanent housing for victims of the earthquake in Palu, Central Sulawesi, should be completed at the earliest, as the locals have long awaited it.

"The permanent housing has long been awaited by those affected by earthquake, tsunami, and liquefaction, so it should be completed soon," Jokowi stated during a visit to examine progress in the construction of permanent housing in Tondo Village, Palu, on Tuesday.

The president and First Lady Iriana Widodo visited two construction sites of permanent housing in Duyu Village and Tondo Village.

In Tondo Village, of the total 1,500 houses planned to be built at the location, some 200 houses were built by donor Buddha Zhu Chi Foundation.

Jokowi stated that the complex issue of land clearance had hindered the construction of permanent housing in the region.

"However, the Central Sulawesi governor and Palu mayor had solved the problem. Hence, there is no further problem concerning the land’s legal status," President Jokowi stated.

The construction of 1,500 houses by the foundation is scheduled for completion in April 2020. The Palu city administration has provided 146.80 hectares of land for relocation of the disaster victims to Tondo-Talise and 38.60 hectares in Duyu.

During the visit, the president was accompanied by Social Affairs Minister Juliari Peter Batubara, Head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Doni Monardo, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi, Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono, Central Sulawesi Governor Longki Djanggola, and Palu Mayor Hidayat.

ANTARA