The member of House of Representatives for Commission V Muhammad Rifqinizami Karsayuda hopes the farmers’ rubber purchasing program by the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) can be a model for infrastructure development in the region.
He suggested that the Ministry of PUPR give a role model for the purchase of rubber farmers to PUPR agencies at provincial and district/city levels throughout Indonesia. Legislators from the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) hope that this implementation can be proper, although in 2020 the budget is only Rp100 billion as submitted and will be distributed to nine provinces. Previously the Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Basuki Hadimuljono said natural rubber asphalt could improve the quality and durability of roads compared to ordinary asphalt.
Besides, he added, the advantage of other natural rubber asphalt mixes is that it can improve the quality of asphalt pavement in service life and resistance to grooves. The PUPR Ministry has prepared a budget of Rp100 billion to buy 12,500 tons of rubber directly from farmers in several producing regions as an asphalt mixture.
Meanwhile, an effort to mitigate the impact of COVID-19, the Ministry of PUPR has also conducted refocusing activities for routine maintenance of roads and bridges that will be carried out with a cash-intensive scheme (PKT) with a target of absorbing as many as 17,157 people.
In addition to purchasing rubber asphalt from farmers, the Ministry of PUPR has also prepared a budget of Rp25 billion for the purchase of PT Perhutani’s resin production of 800 tons for painting road markings. PT Perhutani’s resin is made from pine tree sap. Hence, it is more environmentally friendly compared to C5 petroleum resin as a raw material for road markings, and adhesion of resin made from pine tree sap is also more durable and affordable. ***
Antara, 11/05/2020