In a region often associated with neglect, unrest, and underdevelopment, a new promise from Jakarta has stirred cautious optimism. President Prabowo Subianto, in a bold move that signals his administration’s intent to equalize development across Indonesia, has instructed the Ministry of Housing and Settlements (Kementerian PKP) to immediately begin construction of 2,000 affordable housing units in Papua. The directive forms part of his flagship initiative—the Three Million Houses Program, which aims to build 15 million homes across Indonesia during his five-year term.
It is a moment that, for many Papuans, feels long overdue. After years of living in substandard housing—wooden shacks without proper sanitation or security, perched on difficult terrain—the announcement offers more than infrastructure. It offers dignity.
A Presidential Mandate with Local Roots
The announcement came during a high-level government coordination meeting earlier this month, where President Prabowo instructed PKP Minister Maruarar Sirait to “immediately start” the construction of the housing units. Prabowo emphasized that Papua must not be left behind in the national development agenda, particularly in key sectors like housing, infrastructure, and basic services.
“I want Papua to be treated with fairness and priority,” Prabowo was quoted saying during the session. “We cannot talk about unity without equal treatment.”
The directive did not fall on deaf ears. Within days, Minister Sirait traveled to Papua to coordinate with local leaders and stakeholders. In meetings held in Wamena, he consulted with the Papua Provincial Government, representatives of the State Intelligence Agency (BIN), the National Police, and the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP) to ensure that the rollout would proceed with full transparency and legal compliance.
“We’re not just building homes—we’re building trust,” Sirait said. “These 2,000 houses are a symbol of a new beginning for Papua, a tangible sign that the state is present and listening.”
The Broader Vision: Three Million Homes for All
The Papua initiative is just one component of a far more ambitious national plan. Launched in early 2025, the Three Million Houses Program seeks to tackle Indonesia’s chronic housing shortage, which experts estimate affects over 12 million families. By constructing three million new housing units each year, the program aims not only to improve living conditions but also to stimulate local economies, create millions of jobs, and reduce poverty.
The scope of the program is massive. It spans urban and rural areas, coastal communities, mountainous regions, and even remote outer islands. Special focus is placed on underserved provinces such as Papua, West Papua, East Nusa Tenggara, and North Maluku, where housing gaps are most severe.
Unlike past initiatives that relied heavily on large corporate developers, this program encourages community-based construction through local contractors, cooperatives, and SMEs, especially in rural areas. This approach is designed to ensure that the economic benefits of construction—employment, skills training, and procurement—remain within the communities being served.
Papua: A Region in Need of Restoration
Papua’s challenges are not new. Decades of marginalization, coupled with geographic isolation and complex land tenure systems, have left the region lagging behind in nearly every human development index. In many highland villages, families live without clean water, electricity, or permanent housing. In some districts, entire generations have grown up in makeshift shelters that offer little protection against the elements.
While security issues in certain parts of Papua have drawn national headlines, the deeper crisis—poverty and neglect—has remained a silent emergency. For many Papuan families, the hope of owning a decent home has long seemed out of reach.
That is why the 2,000-home directive feels so significant. More than an infrastructure project, it is a symbol of recognition—a public acknowledgment that Papuan lives matter and that the state bears responsibility for improving them.
Building with Integrity: Oversight and Accountability
Given Indonesia’s mixed record with public housing projects—often marred by corruption, cost overruns, and substandard construction—the government is making a point to ensure that this initiative is watched carefully. Minister Sirait’s decision to involve BPKP auditors and collaborate with provincial police and intelligence units is a clear signal that transparency will be non-negotiable.
Furthermore, the ministry has committed to reporting progress publicly, with periodic updates to both the national and provincial legislatures. Any contractor or official found exploiting the project for personal gain will, the minister promised, “face legal consequences, without exception.”
Land acquisition, one of the thorniest issues in Papua due to communal ownership and traditional customs, is also being addressed through dialogue with indigenous leaders. The government has stated that no homes will be built on disputed lands and that all housing beneficiaries will be selected through a transparent, inclusive process.
The Human Impact: Hope in Concrete Form
For 45-year-old Yulianus Tabuni, a farmer from Lanny Jaya Regency, the news of the housing program felt almost surreal.
“We’ve heard promises before, but they never came,” he said. “This time, if it really happens, it will change our lives.”
Yulianus, his wife, and their three children currently live in a two-room wooden hut without a bathroom. Their cooking is done over an open fire, and during the rainy season, the roof leaks so badly that they sleep on mats in a neighbor’s more secure home.
“To have a real house—a roof, a toilet, maybe electricity—it would be a blessing,” he said. “Not just for us, but for our children’s future.”
His sentiment is echoed by many in the highlands, where trust in the central government has often been eroded by years of unmet promises. But Prabowo’s personal involvement—combined with the urgency in Minister Sirait’s voice—has sparked something that had been dormant for years: cautious hope.
Critics and Realists: Skepticism Lingers
Despite widespread support, not everyone is convinced. Civil society groups have warned that unless community input is prioritized, the homes could become poorly planned and underused. Some analysts also point out that 2,000 homes, while meaningful, represent a fraction of what is needed.
In response, the Ministry has clarified that the Papua initiative is a first phase and that success in implementation could lead to additional waves of housing investment in the province.
“We are starting with 2,000 to prove that it can be done,” Sirait told reporters. “Papua is not being given leftovers—it is being prioritized.”
A Path Forward
As construction begins in the coming months, the true measure of the program’s success will not lie in statistics or ribbon-cutting ceremonies, but in the lives transformed on the ground.
If done right, this initiative could begin to rebuild trust between the Papuan people and the state. It could offer families not just physical shelter but emotional and psychological security. It could plant the seeds of peace in a region too often defined by its pain.
For President Prabowo, the 2,000 homes are part of a larger vision—a country where no citizen is left behind, where prosperity is shared, and where dignity is not reserved for the few. Whether that vision becomes reality will depend on what happens next, brick by brick, foundation by foundation, in the hills of Papua.
Conclusion
President Prabowo’s directive to build 2,000 homes in Papua is more than a development initiative—it’s a statement of inclusion and national unity. As part of the broader Three Million Houses Program, this effort seeks to correct long-standing inequality, offering hope and tangible change to marginalized communities. If executed transparently and collaboratively, it could become a model for welfare-driven governance. Ultimately, the success of this program in Papua will be measured not just in structures built, but in trust restored and lives improved.