BPS Takes Role in Determining the Direction of Mamasa Development 2025-2029

[Mamasa, April 15, 2025] – The Head of the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) of Mamasa Regency, Aan Setyawan, attended and served as a speaker at the Public Consultation Forum for the Regional Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMD) of Mamasa Regency for 2025–2029 and the Regional Government Work Plan (RKPD) Development Planning Meeting (Musrenbang) for 2026. The event was also attended by Mamasa Regent Welem Sambolangi, SE., M.M., Vice Regent Drs. H. Sudirman, and other local stakeholders.

The event was held at the Sarambu Liawan Waterfall tourist site in Sumarorong District. According to Regent Welem Sambolangi, the location was chosen to promote Mamasa’s local assets and revive interest in one of its fading tourist destinations.

The main goal of this forum was to determine the region’s development policy through the 2025–2029 RPJMD and to set development priorities for 2026 through the Musrenbang. The meeting aimed to gather input, suggestions, and feedback from stakeholders, and was seen as a starting point for Mamasa’s recovery over the next five years.

In his presentation, Aan Setyawan explained Mamasa's macroeconomic indicators in recent years, referring to the regional vision: "Mamasa Towards Mamase." Besides its philosophical meaning, "Mamase" stands for Maju (Progressive), Mandiri (Independent), and Sejahtera (Prosperous).

Under the Progressive point, he highlighted the region’s economic growth, Human Development Index (HDI), and household access to infrastructure. He noted, “In 2027, based on population projections, more than 20% of Mamasa’s population will be aged 60 or older. This means we need proper planning to support an aging population with lower productivity.”

For the Independent aspect, he focused on the structure of the economy, food security, and price developments. According to the Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP), agriculture and household consumption remain the main contributors to Mamasa’s economy. “I hope we can see opportunities in the food and agriculture sectors since agriculture sustained Mamasa’s economy during the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.

On the Prosperous point, he discussed poverty and employment rates. Although the numbers have gradually improved, the pace of progress has slowed.

Agus Salim, SE., M.S., the lead expert for the RPJMD drafting team, also presented the initial RPJMD plan. He pointed out four major challenges Mamasa faces: slow economic growth, low quality of human resources, high poverty levels, and inadequate basic services. “To address these issues, we can boost the productivity of main commodities, promote the processing of leading local products, improve regional connectivity, develop MSME hubs, and expand access to education and healthcare,” he explained.

The event ended with an open discussion session, allowing participants to contribute ideas for the upcoming RPJMD. Several suggestions were raised, including disaster response strategies, infrastructure improvements (such as roads), nature and marine tourism development to increase local revenue, and accelerating development. The hope is that Mamasa will not rely solely on central government transfers but also find ways to strengthen its own local revenue sources (PAD).