TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Ministry of Transportation allocates 10 percent of its budget this year for Papua. Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said the policy is an implementation of the equitable development program in eastern Indonesia.

The funds will be used to build infrastructure, finance the marine highway program, run the air bridge program, and subsidize the transport of goods by plane.

"In addition to subsidizing people to travel, there is a subsidy for freight in Papua," Budi said in Jakarta, yesterday, March 6.

This year, the Transportation Ministry receives a budget of Rp45.98 trillion. At the end of February, only 3.07 percent has been used. Budi aims to absorb 92 percent of the budget this year.

The Ministry has allocated Rp150 billion for the air bridge program as part of the nation-wide "one cement price" program.

"The Ministry of Transportation will subsidize logistics flights to inner parts of Papua," M. Alwi, the ministry's Head of Research and Development for Air Transport, said in January.

Expensive plane rides to Papua is seen as the main cause for high prices of goods in the island. The mountainous region of Papua can only be accessed by small aircraft, such as the Cessna 208 Caravan.

"Small planes' operating cost is Rp30 million per flight. While the plane can only carry 800 kilograms payload," said Alwi.

In the air bridge program, the Ministry of Transportation wants Papua to be able to receive larger aircraft, like the Boeing 737. The fleet will serve 14 routes in Papua, Sulawesi, and Kalimantan.

KHAIRUL ANAM