Jakarta. Nunukan District Military Command, also known as Kodim 0911, will open road access for the remote Binusan Dalam village in Nunukan, North Kalimantan.

The initiative is part of the TNI Manunggal Membangun Desa (TMMD) program by the Indonesian Military (TNI) —in collaboration with the regional government — which seeks to spur development in remote villages.  This time, the 111th TMMD in Nunukan focuses on Binusan Dalam — particularly at an isolated hamlet, RW 11, home to about 55 families. 

Binusan Dalam is in a dire state. It lacks electric supply from the state-run utility firm PLN. Only a few urban hamlets (RW) receive solar cell assistance from the North Sumatra Provincial government. The village also does not have road access, making it difficult for residents to carry their harvested crops from the rice fields.

“We are focusing on Binusan Dalam, which is not that far from Nunukan as the village. Especially RT 11, which is still isolated. There is no road access,”111th TMMD task force commander Lt. Col. Czi Eko Pur Indriyanto said in a written statement.

In response, Kodim will build a road that spans 1,850 meters x 6 meters and four drainages. They will also rehab five uninhabitable houses and provide new sanitation facilities and clean water storages.

“In the future, we hope PLN can build a power station in this area so the Binusan Dalam villagers, particularly those in RT 11, can have access to electricity,” he said. 

TMMD goes beyond physical infrastructure assistance. Local villagers will receive counseling on drugs, stunting, public health, agriculture, and animal husbandry. 

Indriyanto hoped the program would give a boost to the village's economy. According to Indriyanto, TMMD will take place from June 15 to July 15. In this program, the military also teams up with the local government, the police, and the villagers.