Parigi Moutong Launches All-Out War on Poverty in Remote Areas

Parigi Moutong Kartininews.com – The Parigi Moutong Regency Government is focusing its poverty alleviation strategy on remote areas that have long faced limited access to education, infrastructure, electricity, telecommunications, and decent housing. This approach is being carried out through strengthened synergy across regional government agencies (OPD) and the empowerment of indigenous communities, who remain vulnerable to poverty.

This effort was highlighted during a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) held by the Parigi Moutong Regency Government in the Regent’s Meeting Room on Tuesday (9/6/2026), as part of developing a more targeted development strategy based on real field conditions.

Parigi Moutong Regent Erwin Burase stated that poverty alleviation cannot be done solely through social assistance. It must address the root problems faced by communities in remote areas.

According to the latest data, the poverty rate in Parigi Moutong Regency currently stands at 13.51 percent. In addition, the local government is also facing the challenge of a high number of out-of-school children (ATS), which remains a serious concern.

Erwin explained that these two issues are interconnected and require integrated interventions to create sustainable change.

“The available data must serve as the foundation for designing well-targeted programs. Therefore, we hope the field teams will provide real input so that the policies we develop truly address the needs of communities in remote areas,” he said.

He added that one of the local government’s main priorities is to improve the quality of housing for people living in isolated regions. To support this, the Parigi Moutong Regency Government has coordinated with the Provincial Government to push for the construction of decent housing for residents who have been living in concerning conditions.

The government will also conduct mapping based on coordinate points to ensure that every development intervention is more precise and effective.

In addition to housing, the development of basic infrastructure is another priority considered crucial to the success of poverty eradication. Access to roads, electricity, and internet networks are urgent needs that must be met quickly so communities are not left further behind.

“The Communications and Informatics Agency will handle areas that are not yet covered by telecommunications signals, while the Education Agency will evaluate the condition of schools and educational access in those regions,” Erwin emphasized.

According to him, limited access to education and basic services has long been one of the factors slowing down improvements in community welfare in remote areas.

For this reason, the local government is paying great attention to the validity of field data. All OPDs and technical teams have been instructed to update data regularly to avoid discrepancies between actual community conditions and the administrative data used in program planning.

Field documentation in the form of photos and videos will also be used as evaluation material and a basis for policy-making, ensuring that every program truly responds to the needs of the community.

To accelerate program implementation, the Parigi Moutong Regency Government is committed to allocating budget support through amendments to the Regional Budget (APBD). The local government is also seeking assistance for heavy equipment that can be used to open road access to areas that have been difficult to reach.

Erwin stressed that the success of regional development must be measured by the government’s ability to deliver real change for those who need it most.

“We hope that various fundamental problems in remote areas can be resolved gradually, so that the poverty rate and the number of out-of-school children continue to decline until the end of our term,” he said.

Through an approach that combines infrastructure development, improved access to education, provision of basic services, and empowerment of indigenous communities, the Parigi Moutong Regency Government aims for poverty alleviation that not only reduces statistical figures but also sustainably improves the quality of life for its people.