Gibran urges careful planning for village cooperative locations
Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka has directed local authorities in East Nusa Tenggara to halt plans for a Red and White Village Cooperative facility at the site of Wolomoni Public Elementary School. During a visit on Thursday, the Vice President emphasized that site selection for such projects must involve rigorous study and community consultation to ensure school operations remain undisturbed.
Protecting Educational Infrastructure
The intervention followed reports that the school was slated for demolition to make room for a new cooperative building. According to Gibran, previous construction efforts for a facility located behind the school had already resulted in structural damage to the existing buildings. To prevent further disruption to learning, authorities have now decided to relocate the project to a different site.
Gibran stated that the decision to move the project serves two purposes: protecting student access to education and preventing potential market distortion. By relocating the facility, the government aims to avoid unfair competition between the new cooperative and existing small local retailers or village-owned enterprises.
The visit to Wolomoni Public Elementary School is part of a broader working trip for the Vice President, which includes stops in East Nusa Tenggara, Gorontalo, West Papua, and South Papua scheduled to conclude on June 21.
Future Implications and Community Needs
Beyond the immediate relocation of the cooperative site, the visit highlighted broader infrastructure gaps in the Ende District. The Vice President proposed that the school be included in the national Free Nutritious Meals program to support student welfare. Additionally, local residents formally requested improvements to teacher housing and the expansion of internet connectivity in the region.
Samantha Carter notes that the Vice President’s intervention signals a shift toward prioritizing social infrastructure over commercial expansion in rural planning. The focus on avoiding “unfair competition” suggests that future government-backed cooperative projects may face stricter oversight regarding their impact on local, private-sector micro-economies.
What Happens Next
Following the visit to Ende, the Vice President is scheduled to travel to Gorontalo. His agenda there includes opening the 17th National Farmers and Fishermen Week and conducting an inspection of a local dam. The move to relocate the cooperative project suggests that local officials in Ende will now need to identify a new site that satisfies the criteria of being non-disruptive to public services while maintaining economic viability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the cooperative project in Ende relocated?
The project was moved to protect the Wolomoni Public Elementary School from demolition and to prevent further damage to the school’s buildings caused by construction activities.
What is the status of the Free Nutritious Meals program for this school?
During his visit, Vice President Gibran proposed that the school be included as a recipient of the government’s Free Nutritious Meals program.
What other concerns did residents raise with the Vice President?
Residents requested better teacher housing and improved internet connectivity for the area.
How do you think prioritizing local infrastructure over commercial projects will affect rural development in the long term?