DPD RI’s Efforts Yield Results as Island Regions Bill Nears Completion

14 August 2026 oleh admin

Jakarta, dpd.go.id - The House of Regional Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia (DPD RI)'s long struggle to bring development justice to island communities has entered a crucial phase. The Draft Law on Island Regions, a DPD initiative, has now entered tripartite discussions with the House of Representatives (DPR RI) and the government. President Prabowo Subianto expressed optimism that the bill will soon be finalized, creating an opportunity for a new milestone in equitable development and an important legacy for the current administration for island communities.

President Prabowo expressed this optimism during the 2026 Joint Session of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) and the Regional Representative Council (DPD RI) at the Nusantara Building, Parliament Complex, Jakarta, Friday (August 14, 2026). President Prabowo Subianto specifically mentioned the DPD RI's struggle for the Archipelago Region Bill, which has now entered tripartite discussions with the DPR RI and the government.

In the Joint Session of the DPR RI and the DPD RI, Prabowo Subianto explained that the DPD RI had collected 10,883 aspirations from 38 provinces and brought them into dialogue with the Government, including Bappenas and related ministries, as input for the 2027 Government Work Plan. In the Joint Session, Prabowo also emphasized specifically that the Draft Law on Archipelagic Regions initiated by the DPD RI had been discussed in a tripartite manner and was targeted for immediate completion.

"DPD continues to advocate for the Archipelago Region Bill, which is now under tripartite deliberation with DPR and the government. God willing, it will be completed," Prabowo emphasized.

Regarding this matter, the Speaker of the DPD RI, Sultan B Najamudin, said that this development is an important momentum in the struggle of the DPD RI, which has consistently proposed the Archipelago Region Bill since 2017. After almost nine years of fighting in every National Legislation Program, the bill has finally entered the 2026 Priority Prolegnas and is currently in the discussion stage with the DPR RI and the Government.

"For almost nine years, since 2017, the DPD RI has tirelessly proposed the Archipelagic Region Bill in every National Legislation Program (PKB), year after year. This long struggle has now borne fruit. The bill has officially been included in the 2026 Priority Prolegnas (National Legislation Program)," explained the Sultan.

For the Sultan, this development demonstrates that regional aspirations championed through the DPD RI can become a national policy agenda. The Archipelagic Region Bill is not solely concerned with the needs of a single region, but rather represents an effort to present a development approach that aligns with Indonesia's character as an archipelagic nation.

According to him, national development must reach all regions more equitably, including small islands, outermost regions, underdeveloped areas, and border areas. Therefore, specific regulations for archipelagic regions are needed so that geographic characteristics, connectivity challenges, basic service needs, and regional potential can be part of national policy considerations.

"Therefore, every national development agenda must be implemented in all provinces, felt in districts and cities, impacted in sub-districts and villages, reaching small islands, outermost regions, disadvantaged areas, and present in border areas," he said.

The Sultan explained that the DPD RI's position is strategic in this struggle because this institution represents regional communities at the central level. The Sultan emphasized that the DPD RI's work goes beyond gathering aspirations, but also articulates them through its legislative, oversight, deliberation, and representation functions, ensuring that regional community needs can be translated into national policy.

The Sultan appreciated the support of the President and the DPR RI for the commencement of deliberations on the Archipelagic Regions Bill. He stated that this momentum must be utilized to ensure the deliberations produce regulations that truly affirm the needs of island communities and accelerate equitable development.

"Through this Joint Session, the DPD RI, along with millions of people in the island regions, expressed their highest appreciation to President Prabowo Subianto and the DPR RI for starting discussions on the Island Region Bill," added the Sultan.

He hopes the tripartite discussions will be constructive and result in legislation that strengthens the position of island regions in national development. For the DPD, the completion of the bill will be proof that the fight for regional representation can result in policy changes that directly impact the community.

The Sultan is even optimistic that the Archipelagic Region Bill can become an important milestone for the Prabowo-Gibran administration in providing development justice.

"We are confident and believe that this bill will be passed as a historical milestone and an important legacy of President Prabowo's administration in delivering development justice and strengthening Indonesia as an archipelagic nation," he explained.