President Jokowi reviews infrastrukture projects in West Sumatera's village

Dharmasraya, W Sumatera (Antaranews Babel) - President Joko Widodo reviewed several rural development projects in Dharmasraya Regency, West Sumatera, during a working visit on Wednesday.

The president paid a visit to review some infrastructure projects under the Development of Regional Socio-Economic Infrastructure, such as the road construction in Sitiung Sub-district. The 1,570-meter concrete road is under construction and being built at a cost of Rp596.5 million.

President Widodo also took time to review the construction of drinking water and sanitation facilities as well as irrigation infrastructure to support local agriculture in the sub-district.

Accompanied by the Public Works and People's Housing Ministry's water resources director-general Imam Santoso, the president walked by the rice fields to review the development of irrigation projects.

The president seemed unperturbed by the slight drizzle and continued his visit, and this was enthusiastically captured by the local people through their cellphone cameras.

In the afternoon, President Jokowi is scheduled to review the development of Embung Sitiung, also in Sitiung Sub-district. The embankment has a water reservoir volume of 15,625 cubic meters built with funds worth Rp810 million.

The project is expected to be completed after 90 days, with 50 workers.

The central government has transferred village funds to the local governments to boost the local economy and provide employment through labor-intensive projects.

The amount of village funds has gradually increased, from Rp280.3 million per village in 2015 to Rp800.4 million per village in 2017.