Lombok Zone – On February 25, 2026, the Governor of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), Lalu Muhamad Iqbal, visited the impoverished residents of Sigar Penjalin village in North Lombok District. His visit aimed to distribute essential food supplies and cash assistance while checking on the implementation of the Empowered Village Program, designed to combat poverty.
Sigar Penjalin has been identified as a key area for this initiative. Accompanied by various local government organizations and Baznas NTB, Iqbal personally assessed the living conditions of families, including children facing severe economic hardships.
During his visit, Iqbal highlighted the significant potential of Sigar Penjalin, strategically positioned near Lombok’s tourist attractions. The area boasts attractions such as Sire Beach, luxury villas, premium hotels, a golf course, and a mini zoo. Despite its potential, extreme poverty persists among some residents.
“The potential here is immense, but I’ve seen firsthand that many still suffer from dire poverty. Their circumstances are challenging and require collaborative and well-organized intervention,” Iqbal stated.
Iqbal elaborated on the Empowered Village Program, which will intervene at both the village and family levels. Village facilitators have already pinpointed key issues, including a high number of youth without stable employment.
The core objective of this program is to ensure that each family has a reliable source of income within a year. “Our goal is for every household to achieve financial independence and stable income in the next year. That’s the essence of tackling poverty,” he explained.
In addition to economic assistance, the program will address educational issues, waste management, and village spatial planning. This year, the Empowered Village initiative is targeting 40 villages classified as extremely poor.
Regarding the allocation of the Rp500 million stimulus per village, Iqbal emphasized that spending should be driven by the actual needs of the community. Local governments, along with support teams, are tasked with identifying programs that can effectively boost the local economy.
“Everything must be based on a bottom-up approach, reflecting the villagers’ own identification of needs. It’s the responsibility of village heads and facilitators to determine what will serve as an economic lever,” he said.
Moreover, Iqbal noted that support will come not only from the provincial government but also from the central government, local authorities, civil society organizations, and universities.
Earlier, Iqbal expressed that the Empowered Village Program is a solution-oriented initiative characterized by its collaborative and orchestrated nature. “Don’t think you can solve these village issues alone; it’s impossible,” he emphasized while addressing the village facilitators.
In closing, Iqbal urged that the presence of village facilitators should be felt by the community, encouraging engagement and consultation with existing support personnel. “You are not designed to solve village problems alone. There are various support systems already in place. Collaborate with them; that is the hallmark of the Empowered Village Program,” he affirmed.
Zawil Fadli, the head of Sigar Penjalin village, expressed hope for intensive intervention from the NTB provincial government to address extreme poverty in his village, stating, “We hope our impoverished residents can be assisted through empowering programs, so that we can resolve poverty issues in our village as soon as possible.”
