DELI SERDANG | INDATANEWS.COM - Head of the Deli Serdang Regency Office of Communication, Informatics, Statistics and Encryption (Kominfostan), Sandra Dewi Situmorang, attended a coordination meeting on the duties of data custodians and supporting data custodians at the Deli Serdang Regency Office of Finance and Asset Management (BKAD) Hall on Tuesday, September 29, 2026.
The coordination meeting was part of the Deli Serdang Regency Government's efforts to strengthen the roles, duties, and functions of data custodians and supporting data custodians in implementing Satu Data Indonesia. Through stronger coordination, the regional government seeks to promote more integrated, accurate, up-to-date, and accountable data management.
The event also aimed to strengthen a shared understanding among regional government agencies regarding the importance of data. Data serves as an important foundation for planning, program implementation, policy management, and evaluation of development outcomes.
Strengthening the Role of Data Custodians
Head of the Statistics Division at Kominfostan Deli Serdang, Arifin Faisal Tarigan, said in his report that the coordination meeting was aimed at strengthening the roles of data custodians and supporting data custodians throughout all stages of data management.
According to him, data management covers the processes of collecting, verifying, processing, and publishing data produced by regional government agencies.
"The data will later be used to support development planning, implementation, management, and evaluation, as well as to realize high-quality and data-driven decision-making," he said.
Arifin explained that the regional government needed clear data management so that all information generated by regional government agencies could be utilized optimally. Existing sectoral data must also follow uniform standards and have comparable quality to prevent discrepancies when the data are used for various development purposes.
He expressed hope that the coordination meeting would result in an agreement document that could serve as a means of strengthening the duties of data custodians and supporting data custodians, particularly in managing sectoral data in Deli Serdang Regency.
The agreement is expected to provide clearer divisions of responsibilities among regional government agencies while strengthening coordination in providing the data required by the Deli Serdang Regency Government.
DATA VALIDATION AS THE FOUNDATION OF DEVELOPMENT PLANNING: Sandra Dewi Situmorang emphasizes the importance of valid, high-quality, up-to-date, and integrated data as the foundation for regional development planning and budget preparation. (PHOTO: Edi Saputra)
Data as a Development Resource
In her address, Sandra Dewi Situmorang emphasized the importance of changing the way data are understood in the era of digital transformation. In her view, the government can no longer regard data merely as a collection of figures or supplementary administrative documents.
"Data are the new treasure. Data are no longer merely a collection of figures or supplementary administrative documents, but assets of very high value when properly managed, processed, and utilized," she said.
According to Sandra, the government needs high-quality data to ensure that every policy measure and development program is based on a solid foundation. Valid data also help the government identify the needs of the community more accurately and avoid implementing measures that do not correspond with actual conditions on the ground.
She described data as a compass for development. Without accurate and high-quality data, it would be difficult for the government to determine the direction of its policies and measure the success of programs that have already been implemented.
"Regional development planning that has a tangible impact on the community can only be achieved when it is based on valid, high-quality, and continuously updated data. This is the central importance of the Satu Data Indonesia framework," she explained.
Sandra said data custodians are responsible for managing regional data. Their duties include collecting data, verifying their compliance with the principles of Satu Data Indonesia, processing the data, and disseminating them.
Meanwhile, supporting data custodians from regional government agencies are responsible for consolidating sectoral data within their respective agencies before the data are submitted to regional-level data custodians.
According to Sandra, this division of responsibilities requires close cooperation among regional government agencies. Each agency must ensure that the data it manages comply with applicable regulations and can be jointly utilized within the government system.
"Therefore, let us create synergies and integrate data. Government data are public assets that must be managed transparently, in an integrated and accountable manner, to support better planning, management, and evaluation of regional development," she said.
STRENGTHENING DATA CUSTODIANS AND SUPPORTING DATA CUSTODIANS: Head of the Statistics Division at Kominfostan Deli Serdang, Arifin Faisal Tarigan, presents his report on strengthening the roles of data custodians and supporting data custodians in sectoral data management. (PHOTO: Edi Saputra)
Building an Integrated Data House
Sandra further emphasized several steps that the regional government must take to ensure consistent implementation of data management. These include strengthening the commitment of each regional government agency, improving human resource capabilities, ensuring data validity and standards, and promoting evidence-based development.
She explained that all data entered into the system must comply with applicable data standards, be accompanied by metadata, and support interoperability. This would allow different datasets to be connected across various application systems rather than remaining confined to a single regional government agency.
Kominfostan is also promoting the establishment of a centralized database within the Deli Serdang Regency Government. To support this objective, Kominfostan has prepared the necessary infrastructure in the form of a "data house."
Sandra explained that the existence of the data house requires active support from all regional government organizational units (OPD). Each regional government agency must enter and update data according to its respective duties and responsibilities.
"The data house is already prepared. We hope that the OPDs will fill this data house with complete and high-quality data. If data in one regional government agency change, those changes should be integrated into other systems and updated there as well," she said.
In addition to establishing the data house, Kominfostan is also developing an integrated system through the development of a so-called Super App. The system is intended to facilitate the integration of various applications and datasets managed by regional government agencies.
The development of an integrated system is particularly important because the regional government still faces the challenge of having data distributed across individual regional government agencies. Not all data have been integrated, meaning that searching for information can sometimes take more time.
This condition can also result in different figures, repeated data entry, and less efficient processes for exchanging and jointly utilizing information between systems.
Sandra said the government needs to build a management system that ensures all data have a clear source and can be traced. In addition to macro data, the government also needs detailed microdata to address more specific development needs.
"Our data must be clear, detailed, and traceable. We still need macro data, but we must also have more detailed microdata so that they can be utilized according to specific requirements," she said.
She cited the importance of complete and integrated data when providing information to the public. Integrated data can help the government provide more accurate explanations, including when clarifying budget allocations or the results of development programs.
According to her, development planning and budget preparation must begin with accurate data. When the government has precise and up-to-date information, it can identify development needs and priorities more accurately.
This includes determining priorities for infrastructure development, human resource needs, the expansion of information technology networks, as well as various public service programs.
"Why can we create solid planning? Because it starts with the right data. Our future budget planning must be based on accurate data," she emphasized.
Sandra expressed hope that the coordination meeting would become an important moment for all regional government agencies to align their steps, harmonize their understanding, and strengthen their commitment to building transparent, accountable, and trusted data management.
She emphasized that the success of Satu Data Indonesia in Deli Serdang Regency requires the participation of all regional government agencies. Each work unit plays an important role in ensuring that the data it produces can be jointly utilized and contribute to the development process.
"High-quality data, effective services that benefit the community. That is our shared goal through Satu Data Indonesia," she concluded.
By strengthening coordination between data custodians and supporting data custodians, the Deli Serdang Regency Government seeks to ensure that sectoral data management becomes more structured in the future. The integration is expected to strengthen the foundation for policy decisions while improving the quality of public services for the community. (IDNC)
REPORTER: Edi Saputra | EDITOR: Fik Sagala