The North Maluku Provincial Government is committed to accelerating road infrastructure improvements in the South Oba region until 2027. The primary focus of development is directed at completing two crucial routes that have been neglected for years, namely the Payahe–Dehepodo and Saketa–Dehepodo sections.
The Governor of North Maluku, Sherly Tjoanda, revealed that out of a total road span of 100 kilometers on the two routes, about 50 kilometers remain severely damaged. This damage is divided into 30 kilometers along the Payahe–Dehepodo corridor and 20 kilometers on the Saketa–Dehepodo route.
The execution of this project will be carried out in phases, adjusting to the local budget capacity. For the Payahe–Dehepodo section, the provincial government is allocating 10 kilometers of asphalt paving in 2026, while the remaining 20 kilometers is targeted for completion in 2027 using the penetration macadam (lapen) method.
Meanwhile, work on the Saketa–Dehepodo route is scheduled to target eight kilometers this year. The remaining 12 kilometers of work on this route is targeted for full completion by the end of 2027.
Previously, this infrastructure project had stalled, leaving an unpaved aggregate base course (LPA) layer. This route was part of an earlier project funded through a loan from PT Sarana Multi Infrastruktur (SMI). Sherly explained that the continuation of this project could only be realized after the completion of the audit process by the Audit Board of Indonesia (BPK).
In addition to focusing on road paving, priority is also given to addressing the extreme slope in the Mount Mangga area, which frequently endangers drivers. The North Maluku Provincial Government plans to reduce the gradient (elevation) of the slope to make it gentler, aiming to improve safety and the smooth mobility of the community in the Oba and South Oba regions.
