Development of border areas has been impeded by complex barriers that need integrated approach to deal with. Therefore, the Prority Based Planning of Land Borders (LOKPRI) is considered very useful.
That was said by a teaching staff from Faculty of Geography of UGM, Dr. Lutfi Muta`ali, S.Si., MT, in the mini-workshop on Development of Indonesia’s Land Borders, a collaboration between the Faculty of Geografy UGM-BNPP (National Border Agency) in the Faculty on Tuesday (29/1).
According to Lutfi, the blueprint of the development may function as integrated planning media and a more focused effort to accelerate development.
“The blueprint also serves to enhance coordination, integration, syncronisation and synergy whether horizontal (between ministries and institutions) or vertical (central and regional governments)," Lutfi said.
In his opinion, the main principle of development of land borders is based on priority location. Currently, there are 111 priority locations that have been established in 12 provinces and 38 regencies/municipalities. Of all those locations, 70 (63%) are land borders.
Meanwhile, Vice Rector for Research and Community Service of UGM, Prof. Dr. Suratman, M.Sc., said that UGM’s role in the border development of the Unitary Republic of Indonesia includes community service through Student Community Service programme in the ‘3T areas’ (the outlaying, the remote and the left behind areas).
“We also give training, consultation and mentoring for the development process in those areas,” Suratman said.
Suratman also touched upon the importance of learning geography for character building, unfortunately the curriculum of geography has not been integrated into that of higher learning institutions and is not compulsory for highschools.
Assistant to Deputy Head for Land Border Potential of the Agency, Drs. Marhaban Ibrahim, M,Sc, said his readiness to collaborate with UGM related to sustainable border management. Marhaban admitted the barriers in the development which include institutional and managerial matters.
“Well, if we look at the system, instrument and policy on borders management, they still need to be integrated better,” Marhaban said.