North Tapanuli Residents Push for Public Hearing to Be a Problem-Solving Forum

The Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) of North Tapanuli Regency, North Sumatra, held at least nine public hearings (RDP) and working meetings from January to May 2026. Residents are urging that these forums become not just a space for conveying aspirations, but also a means of resolving various public issues. A range of agendas were discussed in the forums, including drinking water services, the distribution of subsidised fertiliser, the implementation of the Regional Public Service Agency (BLUD) scheme at community health centres, the handling of Foot and Mouth Disease (PMK), and land issues for the construction of the Siborongborong Bypass Road. Employment issues also drew attention, particularly the contract extension for Government Employees with Work Agreements (PPPK) within the North Tapanuli Health Office. A PPPK employee, who requested anonymity, stated that the public hearing held by the DPRD helped provide clarity on the matter they were facing. ‘Through that RDP, we finally got certainty so that our contract decree could be extended,’ the employee said on Thursday (25/6). Regarding this issue, the Chair of Commission A of the North Tapanuli DPRD, Poltak Sipahutar, had previously stated that his party would schedule a summons for the Personnel and Human Resources Development Agency (BKPSDM) to request an official explanation regarding the differing contract periods for PPPK employees. North Tapanuli resident Vano Hutabarat assessed that the RDP provides a space for the community to convey complaints and aspirations to the government through the DPRD. He noted that the number of issues brought to the council could serve as evaluation material for the local government. ‘If there are many issues reaching the DPRD, it can certainly be used as evaluation material so that future services can be improved,’ he said. Fellow resident Rustia Pasaribu shared a similar view, considering the RDP an important mechanism in regional governance because it opens up space for the public to obtain explanations from relevant parties. ‘The important thing is that every issue that arises can be followed up and resolved properly,’ she said. Meanwhile, Vice Regent of North Tapanuli, Deni Parlindungan Lumbantoruan, when asked for comment in early June 2026 via WhatsApp message, stated that the local government would first coordinate with the relevant regional apparatus organisations (OPD) regarding the PPPK issue. ‘Please be patient, we will provide a response after coordinating with the OPD,’ he wrote.