House Urges Strict Oversight of Fishermen’s Village Program

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - House of Representatives’ Commission IV lawmaker Usman Husin has voiced support for President Prabowo Subianto’s initiative to build cold storage facilities under the Red and White Fishermen’s Village program.

He said the policy represents a concrete step by the government to improve the welfare of coastal communities across Indonesia.

Usman urged the program to be implemented nationwide immediately, while stressing the need for strict oversight to prevent irregularities. “We also request that the construction process be strictly monitored to avoid any misuse,” he said in a press statement in Jakarta on Thursday, May 21, 2026.

He explained that a longstanding problem faced by domestic fishermen has been the deterioration of fish quality and falling prices due to inadequate preservation equipment. “Just imagine, fishermen work hard to catch fish, but their catch doesn’t last long without proper refrigeration. With adequate facilities, fish could be stored much longer,” Usman said.

National data shows that the private sector currently dominates cold storage ownership, with 1,882 units and a capacity of 795,653 tons. In contrast, the central government and local administrations have only 228 units with a capacity of 18,313 tons.

“The number of cold storage facilities must be continuously increased and expanded, given Indonesia’s vast marine resources as a maritime nation,” Usman said. He emphasized that this potential must be managed optimally to benefit fishermen and strengthen national food security.

Earlier, President Prabowo announced plans to develop 5,000 fishing villages as part of the 2027 State Budget Draft’s Macroeconomic Framework and Key Fiscal Policy Guidelines. He underscored the importance of improving the welfare of fishermen and coastal communities, noting their vital role in maintaining food security.

President Prabowo also highlighted challenges faced by fishermen, including difficulties in accessing basic necessities for fishing activities. “Right now, our fishermen struggle to get ice, and even more so diesel fuel. The government will intervene on a large scale,” he said. (Gusti Panji)