Thursday, 05 November 2026
DELI SERDANG | INDATANEWS.COM - Deli Serdang Regent dr. H. Asri Ludin Tambunan has called on authorities at the subdistrict and village levels to accelerate poverty reduction efforts in Pantai Labu Subdistrict. He also urged local authorities to ensure that government programs deliver their intended benefits and are directly felt by the community.
Asri Ludin Tambunan made the call on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, while chairing a coordination meeting for Pantai Labu Subdistrict together with Deli Serdang Deputy Regent Lom Lom Suwondo, S.S.
At the meeting, the Regent emphasized that the government must directly assess the various problems hindering improvements in the community's welfare. He said Pantai Labu requires special attention because its poverty rate is relatively high compared with other areas in Deli Serdang Regency.
"Pantai Labu has the highest poverty rate in Deli Serdang. I am here to see what we need to do—through programs from the central government, provincial government and regional government—so that people here can escape poverty," he said.
Asri said government assistance alone was not enough to address poverty. Such measures must be accompanied by the creation of employment opportunities and better access to education so that people can improve their standard of living independently over the long term.
He emphasized that education is an important factor in breaking the cycle of poverty. For this reason, the regional government continues to ensure that residents have access to basic education without being burdened by costs.
The Regent reaffirmed that elementary education and education through the first level of secondary school are provided free of charge. At the same time, he reminded all parties not to charge students fees for educational services that fall under the government's responsibility.
In addition to education, the government must expand access to economic opportunities for the people of Pantai Labu. By improving employment opportunities and strengthening various economic and social participation programs, residents should not only receive government assistance but also have income sources that enable them to support their families.
The Pantai Labu Subdistrict coordination meeting was attended by Deli Serdang Deputy Regent Lom Lom Suwondo, representatives of the regional administration and village heads. The forum served as a platform for the regency government to gather the concerns and problems faced by residents at the subdistrict and village levels.
The meeting discussed various community needs, including population administration services, student transportation, village ambulances, street lighting and drainage problems.
Particular attention was also given to residents living in areas along river channels or within river watersheds (DAS). Addressing problems in these areas requires cross-sector coordination so that environmental issues and community needs can be handled more effectively.
In addition to gathering public concerns, Deli Serdang Regency authorities briefed subdistrict and village administrations on various government programs. These included PAS PULA, PAS JEMPOL, SIAP SEHAT, free education programs, transportation assistance and health services for the community.
The Regent urged authorities at the subdistrict and village levels not to limit their role to simply announcing government programs. Every program, he said, must actually reach its intended beneficiaries.
According to him, the success of government programs can be measured by how easily residents can access the services provided and how directly they experience their benefits.
Village administrations also have an important role in ensuring that public facilities built by the government are properly maintained. Asri called on village heads and their staff to work together to maintain these facilities so that they can continue to be used by the community in the long term.
He also instructed administrative officials to carry out their duties in accordance with applicable regulations and provide the public with optimal services.
"Work in accordance with the applicable regulations. If things are not carried out properly, I will not hesitate to take firm action," he stressed.
In addition to poverty reduction and basic public services, the Deli Serdang Regency Government is preparing several measures to reorganize areas in Pantai Labu. One of these initiatives involves the revitalization of the Paluh Sibaji area.
The regional government is preparing a plan to reorganize the area, including the construction of houses for 30 fishermen. The program is part of efforts to address the needs of coastal communities while improving the area's livability and supporting residents' activities.
The Deli Serdang Regency Government also plans to normalize river channels as part of efforts to address environmental problems and challenges in residential areas. The initiative is expected to improve spatial conditions while providing benefits to residents who live around the rivers and carry out their daily activities there.
The issues raised during the coordination meeting will serve as a basis for further evaluation by regional authorities and village administrations. The Regent stressed that the concerns raised should not merely be recorded in meeting minutes but must be followed up immediately according to the respective authorities and responsibilities.
Asri expressed hope that the Pantai Labu Subdistrict coordination meeting would continue to serve as a forum for evaluation and coordination among the regency government, subdistrict administration, villages and regional agencies. Through continuous communication, the government can identify problems more quickly while determining appropriate measures to address them.
He emphasized that all government agencies must work in a measurable and accountable manner so that development programs do not remain merely on paper but produce concrete impacts for the community.
These measures are part of the Deli Serdang Regency Government's efforts to accelerate poverty reduction, improve the quality of public services, expand access to education and healthcare, and improve infrastructure needed by the people of Pantai Labu.
Stronger coordination down to the village level is expected to ensure that various programs from the central, provincial and regional governments are implemented in a targeted manner and provide tangible benefits to the community. (IDNC)
REPORTER: Edi Saputra | EDITOR: Fik Sagala
