Minister Launches Pendopo Pate Alos as New Cultural Heritage Center in Besuki

RRI.CO.ID, Situbondo - Indonesian Minister of Culture Fadli Zon has inaugurated the Pendopo Pate Alos pavilion in Besuki, Situbondo Regency, East Java.

The inauguration marks a new chapter following the revitalization of one of Besuki’s most important historical buildings, reaffirming the state’s commitment to preserving cultural heritage as part of the nation’s identity and strength.

Pendopo Pate Alos, formerly known as Kawedanan Besuki, is a colonial-era building of significant historical importance that reflects Besuki’s role as a key administrative hub in its time.

In his remarks, Fadli emphasized that advancing culture is a constitutional mandate, as stipulated in Article 32, Paragraph 1 of the 1945 Constitution.

He stressed that culture must not only be protected but also developed, utilized, and sustained. “Culture is not a burden, but an inexhaustible treasure. When properly revitalized, historic buildings like Pendopo Pate Alos can serve as cultural, educational, and learning centers,” he said on January 25, 2026, as quoted on the ministry’s official website.

Fadli described Besuki as a region rich in historical value. He noted that the restoration of Pendopo Pate Alos was more than a physical repair. “Revitalization is not merely about restoring the structure. It underscores that cultural heritage and historical relics must continue to live, be preserved, and maintained for current and future generations,” he said.

The Minister of Culture highlighted that the new look of Pendopo Pate Alos represents a shared commitment to positioning culture as a strategic national asset.

He pledged to accelerate the registration of national cultural heritage and to encourage the development of the pavilion into a museum documenting the history of the Besuki Residency, which once encompassed five regencies.

The pavilion is expected to evolve into an inclusive public space, a hub for cultural activities, a tourist destination, and a driver of the creative economy and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the surrounding area.

The revitalization is projected to lay the foundation for the sustainable development of the Besuki Heritage ecosystem through collaboration among central and regional governments, local communities, and the private sector.

Situbondo Regent Yusuf Rio Wahyu Prayogo said the Minister’s presence provided significant moral support for the community in preserving and revitalizing their ancestral heritage.

The Ministry of Culture reaffirmed its commitment to continuously safeguarding cultural heritage and strengthening a sustainable cultural ecosystem by revitalizing and activating historical buildings as public cultural spaces for education and literacy.

“Let us protect this great legacy so that the history of Besuki will endure as a symbol of cultural sustainability and hope for future generations,” Fadli concluded. ***