PORTALJABAR, BANDUNG CITY - West Java Deputy Governor Erwan Setiawan is targeting that residents in 27 districts/cities in West Java will be registered in the digital social protection system by early 2027. This target was set to ensure that the distribution of social assistance is increasingly targeted.

This was conveyed by Erwan after attending a meeting to discuss regional government support in accelerating the implementation of the digitalization pilot for social protection in West Java Province at the Ciremai Meeting Room, Gedung Sate, Bandung City, Wednesday (9/9/2026).

The meeting involved representatives from the Social Services Agency, the Population and Civil Registration Agency, the Communications and Informatics Agency, and members of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and the Indonesian National Police (Polri). The meeting followed up on directives from the National Economic Council (DEN) and the Directorate General of Population Affairs regarding the digitalization of social protection.

"God willing, West Java will continue to update the data on recipients of this aid, so that it is truly on target," said Erwan.

According to Erwan, the involvement of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and the Indonesian National Police (Polri) is necessary to strengthen the verification process in the field. The government wants to ensure that the classification of community welfare reflects the actual situation, so that aid is not misdirected.

"Why involve the TNI/Polri? This is to ensure on the ground that decile 1 is truly decile 1, and decile 2 is 2. We don't want decile 1 to fail to receive assistance while decile 5 does," he said.

Currently, 11 regencies/cities in West Java are piloting digital social protection initiatives. Social protection agents are also stationed in these pilot areas.

Erwan targets expanding the scope of social protection digitalization so that all districts/cities in West Java will have access to social protection agents by early 2027.

"I'm targeting that by early 2027, we will have access to 27 cities and districts with this social protection agency," he said.

The digitalization of social protection programs is being developed to improve public access and strengthen the systematic screening process for potential aid recipients. One of the tools used as a gateway to these services is the Digital Population Identity (IKD).

IKD is electronic information that represents various population documents previously available in physical form, such as electronic ID cards (e-KTP), birth certificates, and marriage certificates. This information can be accessed through the IKD application on smartphones.

Through the IKD, the public can independently verify their population data. The IKD was also developed to support access to public services, including determining eligibility for government social protection.

In practice, the IKD is used as a single sign-on (SSO) mechanism to access the social protection system. People can log in to the social protection service portal by selecting the IKD option and then be directed to the IKD application for verification, including biometrics.

Biometric verification is part of system security to ensure that a user's identity matches the recorded population data. This data is linked to biometric information obtained through the recording process, such as fingerprints, irises, photographs, and signatures.

System integration also allows for more comprehensive eligibility screening of aid recipients. After people apply for services, the system can interoperate with several government databases to help ensure recipients' circumstances align with aid criteria.

The public can then select the type of assistance they wish to apply for, such as Non-Cash Food Assistance (BPNT), the Family Hope Program (PKH), or both. The system then checks the submitted data and provides notification regarding the recipient's eligibility status.

The pilot implementation of digital social protection in West Java was previously carried out in three regions: Sumedang Regency, Ciamis Regency, and Bogor Regency. In 2026, the scope of implementation was expanded to eight additional regencies/cities: West Bandung Regency, Bandung Regency, Purwakarta Regency, Karawang Regency, Bogor City, Depok City, Bekasi City, and Bandung City.

The West Java Provincial Government is also providing support through the use of the Sapawarga public service portal. Technically, the social protection system will be further developed to ensure public access through this platform, thereby expanding service channels and access to information.

In addition to digital platforms, dissemination of information about social protection programs will involve Community Information Communities (KIMs). In West Java, there are currently 126 KIMs spread across various regions.

KIM acts as a community group that acts as a liaison between the government and the public for information. KIM's involvement is expected to help promote social protection programs and support the public in understanding the mechanisms and accessing digital services.

Erwan also encouraged the public to play an active role in the process of registering those in need of assistance. They can help identify those in their neighborhoods who truly need social protection and register them through the nearest assistance agency, including those involved in the Family Hope Program (PKH).

"So, the RT/RW's active role must be truly tailored to those in decile 1, decile 2, and decile 3," said Erwan.

According to Erwan, community involvement at the neighborhood level is crucial to prevent data collection errors. The data collection process must be based on residents' conditions and level of well-being, not on family ties or vested interests.

"Don't just register your relatives for assistance. Meanwhile, those who should receive assistance aren't registered, because that's a common misconception," he said.

With the integration of IKD, the social protection system, Sapawarga, and community support through KIM and social protection agents, the digitalization of social protection in West Java is aimed at strengthening data updates, increasing verification accuracy, and ensuring the distribution of assistance to communities who truly meet the criteria.

WEST JAVA PUBLIC RELATIONS
Head of the Communication and Information Service of West Java Province
Adi Komar