President Prabowo pledges continued focus on vulnerable communities, infrastructure renewal

President Pledges Support for Most Vulnerable

President Prabowo Subianto emphasized his administration's unwavering commitment to supporting Indonesia's most vulnerable populations during remarks in Jakarta on Friday, declaring that restoring hope to those facing the greatest hardships remains a central pillar of his governance.

"When those who are deeply vulnerable and helpless can smile and laugh, it means hope is beginning to take root. Our job is to give hope to the most helpless among our people," Prabowo stated at the book launch for Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia.

The president, who assumed office in October 2024 after winning the presidential election with 58.59% of the vote, expressed confidence that his administration is progressing on the right path. Minister Lahadalia, who transitioned from heading the Investment Ministry to his current energy portfolio in August 2024, also chairs the Golkar Party.

Bridge Construction and Village Infrastructure

President Prabowo highlighted the government's infrastructure achievements, particularly in bridge construction, noting that nearly 2,500 bridges have been built across villages throughout Indonesia. He emphasized the administration's responsiveness to public needs through technological monitoring systems.

"Thousands of bridges that we have built are bridges that people actually feel the impact of. People call out, and through technology, we immediately catch it, respond, and react," the president remarked.

He noted that bridge construction falls within the capacity of village governments, given the Village Fund program's allocation. The government has set the 2026 Village Fund ceiling at approximately Rp60.57 trillion distributed across more than 74,000 villages nationwide. The Village Fund initiative, launched by former president Joko Widodo in 2015, has channeled Rp609.9 trillion to villages from 2015 to 2024.

According to Prabowo, village bridges typically cost between Rp400 million and Rp800 million, with larger structures reaching Rp2 billion to Rp3 billion. He warned that if local officials fail to address residents' needs, the central government will intervene directly.

Education Infrastructure Overhaul

The president announced an accelerated program to renovate schools nationwide, with targets exceeding 70,000 facilities by the end of 2026. The government revitalized 16,167 schools in 2025 and is targeting 71,744 schools for renovation in 2026, backed by an initial budget allocation of Rp14 trillion.

"Next year, our target is 100,000, and over the next three years, we will complete the renovation of every school across Indonesia," Prabowo declared.

Healthcare Facility Modernization

Prabowo also committed to renovating community health centers nationwide that have not undergone repairs for over three decades. Indonesia operates approximately 10,000 to 10,000 puskesmas facilities providing primary healthcare services at the sub-district level across the archipelago.

The president's remarks align with priorities he outlined during his presidential campaign and inaugural speech, where he emphasized village funds, corruption prevention, food security, housing, and employment as key governmental focuses. These commitments demonstrate continuity in the administration's policy direction as it approaches its second year in office.