TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo or Jokowi inaugurated the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Mutiara SIS Al-Jufri Airport in Palu, Central Sulawesi, today, Tuesday, March 26, 2024. The airport was repaired after it was severely damaged by the 2018 Palu earthquake.

" The runaways and terminals were damaged, so we have to do rehabilitation and reconstruction," the President said in a live broadcast during the inauguration.

Jokowi said that the existence of airports is very important for the mobility of people, passengers, and goods. When the airport is damaged, for example, if hit by an earthquake, this becomes disrupted. He recalled that during the Palu earthquake, he could not send aid since SIS Mutiara Al Jufri Airport was damaged.

"And this afternoon, Alhamdulillah, after being reconstructed and rehabilitated, we will inaugurate Mutiara SIS Al-Jufri Airport in Palu, which was built with a budget of Rp567 billion," Jokowi said.

Mutiara SIS Al-Jufri Airport now has a runaway length of 2,510 meters and a width of 45 meters. Thus, large-bodied aircraft can land at this airport. "So, this will improve the speed of mobility of people and goods to and from Central Sulawesi," the president added.

In addition to inaugurating SIS Mutiara Al-Jufri Airport, Jokowi also inaugurated Banggai Laut Airport in Banggai Regency as well as Bolaang Mongondow Airport and Bung Karno Park Airport in North Sulawesi.

Regarding the construction budget, Jokowi said that Banggai Laut Airport spent Rp276 billion; Boolang Mongondow Airport Rp391 billion; and Bung Karno Park Airport Rp599 billion.

RIRI RAHAYU

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