JAYAPURA — The Papua Provincial Government disbursed 5.75 billion Rupiah in grant funds for the 2026 fiscal year to nine religious and educational institutions as part of strengthening regional development partnerships. The grants were handed over by Papua Governor Matius Fakhiri at the Papua Governor's Office, Dok II Jayapura, on Monday (February 23, 2026).

Governor Fakhiri said that religious institutions and pioneering schools hold an important position in improving the quality of human resources while also maintaining social harmony in Papua. Therefore, government support is directed toward strengthening the role of these institutions within the community.

"Pioneering schools make a major contribution to producing intelligent and creative Papuan generations. Meanwhile, religious institutions play a role in maintaining unity and social peace," Fakhiri said.

He stressed that the grant funds must be managed transparently and responsibly in accordance with applicable regulations. The regional government wants every form of assistance to provide real benefits to the community and support Papua's development goals.

Fakhiri also referred to the Papua Provincial Government's continued support for the construction of the GKI Port Numbay Classis Office. Assistance that has been provided since 2024 and allocated again in 2026 shows the government's commitment to supporting religious services.

According to the Governor, Papua's future development requires cross-sector collaboration. "The transformation toward a Bright Papua can only be realized through collaboration between the government, educational institutions, and religious institutions," he said.

Meanwhile, Acting Head of the Papua Bureau of Governance and People's Welfare, Herman Ick, explained that the grant funds came from the 2026 Budget Implementation Document of the Bureau of Governance and People's Welfare. The total grant of 5.75 billion Rupiah was allocated to nine religious and educational institutions according to their designated purposes. ***