Palu, Central Sulawesi (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy symbolically handed over the keys to permanent housing to several residents affected by the 2018 earthquake, tsunami, and liquefaction in Palu, Sigi, and Donggala, Central Sulawesi.

"Today, I handed over residential keys to prospective permanent residents in the relocation land in Palu, Donggala, and Sigi," the minister remarked on Friday.

Effendy congratulated residents as beneficiaries of the housing, which was a form of assistance from the government with the help of NGOs and other related parties to ensure smooth rehabilitation and reconstruction for residents affected by the disaster.

He reminded residents to immediately occupy it and not sell it to other parties.

"Do not let it become a slum village. Make it a modern village, a more beautiful place than when you lived in the previous place," he emphasized.

He also called on residents to conduct greening by planting various plants. Effendy also promised them to send durian and rambutan trees. On the same occasion, Director General of Housing at the PUPR Ministry Iwan Suprijanto stated that the construction of permanent housing was in accordance with President Joko Widodo's (Jokowi's) direction in Presidential Instruction (Inpres) Number 8 on Completing Rehabilitation and Reconstruction after the Earthquake, Tsunami, and Liquefaction in Central Sulawesi.

Jokowi has mandated coordination between the central and regional governments in carrying out post-disaster rehabilitation and reconstruction activities in Central Sulawesi until completion in 2024.

Suprijanto highlighted that his side is targeting 5,598 permanent residential units to be completed this year, with the latest development being 5,216 units.

"Of the 5,216 units, some 4,264 units are ready for the key handover, including today," he said.

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He also expressed hope that the provincial government would help to accelerate the completion of construction of permanent housing, including by expediting the readying and handing over of occupancy certificates.

Representing the residents who received the keys to permanent housing, Ida, one of the inhabitants affected by the disaster in Central Sulawesi, expressed gratitude to the government. She also expressed her hope that the permanent residential area would be equipped with infrastructure, such as community health centers and places of worship.