President Jokowi Distributes Land Certificates in NTT Province

President Jokowi holds a dialogue with local residents when distributing 2,500 land certificates at West Manggarai Regency Office, East Nusa Tenggara, Tuesday (21/1). (Photo by: Anggun/PR)

As part of his working visit to Labuan Bajo of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) province, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Tuesday (21/1) at West Manggarai Regency Office distributed 2,500 land certificates to local residents.

In his remarks, President Jokowi said that in 2015, only 46 million out of 126 million land certificates were issued. “There are 80 million unissued certificates. They have the land but do not hold the certificates, leading to disputes everywhere,” he said.

For this reason, the President instructed Minister of Agrarian and Spatial Planning (ATR)/ Head of National Land Agency (BPN) to accelerate the land certificate issuance through Comprehensive Systematic Land Registration Program (PTSL).

“After the instruction (to issue) 5 million (of certificates) in 2017, (the Ministry) has issued 5.4 million certificates. Upon the instruction of 7 million certificates in 2018, it has issued more than 9 million certificates. In 2019, it has also issued 9 million certificates,” the President said.

Due to the acceleration, the President expected the many instances of land disputes will be reduced.

“This (certificate) is proof of legal land rights that we have,” he said.

On the occasion, President Jokowi also asked the recipients of the certificate to keep their certificates properly such as to put them in a plastic cover, to make a copy, and to store them in a safe place.

“Put the original (certificate) in a cabinet, store the copy in another cabinet, if the original is lost, the copy remains. It is easy to replace the lost certificate in the BPN if the copy exists,” the President stated.

The President also asked the certificate holders, who want to use their certificates as collateral for bank loans, to assess beforehand their ability to repay the loans. (UN/EN)

Translated by: Fairuzzamani Inayatillah
Reviewed by: Ridwan Ibadurrohman
Proofread by: Mia M. Bonaedy