3 Million Homes Program: Government’s Commitment to Realizing Social Justice
By: Arifatul Asri
The three million homes program initiated by the government is not just a physical development project, but a real representation of the spirit of the constitution in providing social justice for all people. This initiative is an important part of the implementation of Article 33 of the 1945 Constitution which emphasizes that natural resources are controlled by the state and used as much as possible for the prosperity of the people.
Through this 3 million homes program, the government is directing sectoral policies to favor low-income communities, especially in fulfilling basic needs in the form of decent and affordable housing.
This government commitment was firmly demonstrated by the Minister of Home Affairs, Tito Karnavian, who assessed that the program must be fully supported by all regional governments. In the context of decentralization, synergy between the center and regions is a crucial element to ensure that the target of three million homes is truly achieved.
Tito emphasized that the obligation of regional heads to implement national strategic programs has been regulated in Law Number 23 of 2014 concerning Regional Government, so there is no reason to ignore this policy. In fact, regulations in the form of Presidential Instructions are deemed necessary to strengthen the legal position of this program, while preventing multiple interpretations in its implementation.
Regional governments have also begun to show concrete steps in supporting the program. To date, 492 out of 509 regions have issued regulations on exemption from Land and Building Acquisition Fees (BPHTB) and Building Approval Fees (PBG) for low-income communities.
This BPHTB exemption is an important part of efforts to reduce the burden of home ownership costs, while opening wider access for vulnerable groups to have decent housing. The remaining 17 regions that have not issued similar regulations are being urged to follow suit immediately to ensure that this program runs simultaneously and evenly throughout Indonesia.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Housing and Residential Areas, Maruarar Sirait, emphasized that the provision of housing for the common people should not be hampered by complicated bureaucracy. He prioritized efficiency and cross-sector collaboration as the main keys to accelerating the program.
According to him, the presence of a house not only touches the physical aspect, but is a symbol of the presence of the state in people’s lives. Support from various parties, including banking and the private sector, is crucial so that the target for housing construction can be achieved on time. Maruarar’s efforts to expand the scope of the program also reflect the spirit of equitable, inclusive and sustainable development.
In addition to technical ministries, the role of financing management institutions is also very vital. Commissioner of the Public Housing Savings Management Agency (BP Tapera), Heru Pudyo Nugroho, said that this year his party together with the Ministry of PKP has allocated 20,000 subsidized housing units for workers.
These housing units are spread across strategic areas such as Batang, Pasuruan, Makassar, and Palembang. In addition to expanding the reach of beneficiaries, this policy also provides encouragement for equitable development outside Java. To make it easier for the public to access these subsidized houses, the Housing Financing Liquidity Facility Home Ownership Credit (KPR FLPP) facility is prepared as a low-cost financing scheme with affordable interest.
These integrated steps show that the three million housing program is designed systematically and comprehensively. The government is not only building houses, but also preparing the entire supporting ecosystem starting from financing, regulations, to the active involvement of local governments. Through this approach, the state is present not only as a provider of facilities, but as a protector of the people’s basic rights to humane housing.
This program also has a positive effect on other sectors such as the construction industry, building material providers, and local employment. However, what is more important than that is its impact on the quality of life of the community. By having a decent house, people can live more stable, healthy, and productive lives. This will ultimately encourage microeconomic growth in various regions, while strengthening the foundation of social welfare nationally.
