Strategic Data as the Main Pillar of Ambon City Development Policy

Ambon, December 18, 2024 — The Ambon City Government held a socialization event titled "Strategic Data as the Pillar of Ambon City’s Development Policies" at the Vlissingen Room, Ambon City Hall. The event was attended by policymakers, academics, and community representatives, with Yany Delon Tuhumury, SST, a Junior Expert Statistician, serving as the keynote speaker. The program highlighted the importance of strategic data in formulating evidence-based policies to support sustainable development.

In his presentation, Yany Delon Tuhumury emphasized six key indicators of focus: poverty levels, unemployment, inflation, economic growth, the Human Development Index (HDI), and the results of the 2023 Agricultural Census. Below is a summary of the key points presented:

1. Poverty Levels

Poverty rates in Ambon City over the past decade have shown fluctuations, reaching 5.13% in 2024. The average poverty line is Rp750,166 per capita per month, equivalent to Rp3,000,664 for a household of four members. However, the Poverty Depth Index (P1) increased by 0.06 points, indicating that the poor are moving further away from the poverty line. Similarly, the Poverty Severity Index (P2) rose by 0.02 points, reflecting worsening inequality in expenditure among the poor.

2. Unemployment

The Open Unemployment Rate (TPT) in 2024 was recorded at 11.44%, a decrease of 0.21 points from the previous year. A total of 21,258 residents were classified as unemployed, while the labor force participation rate (TPAK) increased to 66.54%. To address these challenges, the government proposed two main strategies: encouraging school-age individuals to continue their education and creating more job opportunities for the productive-age population.

3. Inflation and Construction Costs

Ambon City experienced a monthly inflation rate of 0.71% in November 2024, higher than the previous month. Annual inflation stood at 2.65%, indicating rising prices for essential goods. Meanwhile, the Construction Cost Index (IKK) for Ambon City was 100.41, 0.41% higher than the benchmark city, Banjarmasin. This highlights challenges in infrastructure development due to the high cost of construction goods and services.

4. Economic Growth

Despite global challenges, Ambon’s economy showed positive growth, with a 4.47% increase in 2023 compared to the previous year. The Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) at current prices (ADHB) rose to Rp18.53 trillion. The highest growth was recorded in the electricity and gas supply sector (14.01%), followed by wholesale and retail trade (7.36%), and health services (6.83%).

5. Human Development Index (HDI)

The HDI of Ambon City improved to 83.37 in 2024, driven by key indicators such as an expected school year of 16.08 years, an average school year of 12.24 years, and real per capita expenditure of Rp15.2 million annually. This increase reflects the government's efforts to enhance the quality of education, healthcare, and the economy for its citizens.

6. Results of the 2023 Agricultural Census

Horticulture and secondary crops emerged as leading subsectors in Ambon's agriculture sector. A total of 3,061 households were engaged in horticulture, while 2,648 households focused on secondary crops. This data highlights the significant potential of the agricultural sector to support the local economy and its strategic importance for future development.

The Way Forward

Through this event, the Ambon City Government reaffirmed its commitment to utilizing strategic data as the primary foundation for public policy development. With accurate data, it is hoped that Ambon City’s development will be more focused, effective, and sustainable. The government also called on all elements of society to contribute to realizing the vision of an inclusive and evidence-based Ambon City.

The event concluded with an interactive discussion between participants and speakers, during which various recommendations and inputs were shared to support future development policies. The people of Ambon now eagerly await concrete actions from the government to implement these development plans.