Home Affairs Ministry prepares housing program for border areas

  Minister of Home Affairs Muhammad Tito Karnavian held a meeting with BNPP (the National Border Management Agency) Secretary Makhruzi Rahman and his staff, discussing preparations for a housing program in border areas.

Karnavian, who also serves as the Head of BNPP, urges BNPP staff to utilize the Uninhabitable House (RTLH) renovation program initiated by the Ministry of Housing and Settlement Areas (PKP), which targets border areas.

He informed that the Ministry of PKP has budgeted for the renovation of 15,000 RTLH units in border areas.

"PKP Minister Maruarar Sirait has already announced 15,000 units. The original 10,000 units have been increased to 15,000. I ask the BNPP to properly implement this program. Do it with dedication," he emphasized in a statement 

He also asked the BNPP to map border areas suitable for the program's implementation, including the number of units in each region.

Meanwhile, for detailed data on the program's recipient communities, he said the BNPP can coordinate with the Statistics Indonesia (BPS).

Karnavian said BPS already has detailed data on the social and economic conditions of the community, including those living in RTLH (Rural and Urban Areas).

This way, the program's implementation can be more targeted according to the recipient criteria.

"Because (BPS) has conducted a survey, the National Social and Economic Single Data (DTSEN)," he remarked.

The minister believes the program will enhance the welfare of border communities, thereby reinforcing nationalism and positioning them as the frontline defenders of national sovereignty in border regions.

"Nationalism will emerge. It will become a buffer zone for defense," he noted.

Earlier, Karnavian and Sirait had visited Siau Tagulandang Biaro (Sitaro) in North Sulawesi to distribute 1,000 housing units to improve uninhabitable homes.

The two ministers also reviewed conditions of residents affected by recent flash floods.

According to him, the initiative reflects the government’s presence in border areas, in line with President Prabowo Subianto’s directive, aiming to strengthen social welfare, regional resilience, and nationalism among border communities in Sitaro.