JAKARTA, WARTA MATANEWS — Deli Serdang Regency has achieved a major milestone by breaking into the top three finalists nationally for the prestigious 2026 Regional Development Award (Penghargaan Pembangunan Daerah / PPD), organized by the Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas.

Deli Serdang Regent Asri Ludin Tambunan personally led the regional delegation to present the regency’s flagship development programs and key socio-economic milestones directly before the Bappenas panel of judges at the Ministry’s headquarters in Jakarta on Tuesday (Sep 1, 2026).

Accompanied by Regional Secretary Dedi Maswardy, TP PKK Chairwoman Jelita Asri Ludin Tambunan, Bappedalitbang Head Yetti Sembiring, and Inspector Edwin Nasution, Regent Asri Ludin delivered a comprehensive presentation showcasing how Deli Serdang’s inclusive policies have delivered tangible progress for the community.

During the assessment, Regent Asri Ludin highlighted several groundbreaking local initiatives designed to accelerate human development and improve social welfare across the regency. Among the highlighted innovations was a specialized social integration and empowerment framework targeting children with special needs (Anak Berkebutuhan Khusus / ABK), which has successfully reached and assisted over 617 beneficiaries across various districts.

“Our development paradigm goes beyond physical infrastructure. We are deeply committed to building an inclusive environment where vulnerable groups, including children with special needs, receive direct access to education, healthcare, and social support,” Regent Asri Ludin stated in Jakarta.

The presentation to Bappenas also detailed impressive statistical gains in key human development metrics across Deli Serdang. The regency’s Expected Years of Schooling (Harapan Lama Sekolah) climbed steadily from 13.40 years in 2024 to 13.46 years in 2025.

Concurrently, Deli Serdang’s Human Development Index (HDI / IPM) registered a significant upward trajectory, rising from 77.56 to 78.29. These achievements underscore the local administration’s consistency in executing targeted poverty reduction programs and expanding educational infrastructure in both urban fringe areas and rural farming villages.

The assessment panel commended the regency’s multi-stakeholder collaboration, noting that the strong synergy between local agencies (OPD), civil society, and local communities has made Deli Serdang a benchmark for sustainable development in North Sumatra.

The Regional Development Award (PPD) is an annual flagship evaluation conducted by Bappenas to honor provincial, regency, and municipal governments across Indonesia that demonstrate excellence in development planning, policy execution, and local innovation. Nominations undergo rigorous multi-stage evaluations, ranging from document verification and technical presentations to field validation interviews by independent experts and senior national planners.

As a direct neighbor to Medan, the provincial capital, Deli Serdang plays a pivotal role as North Sumatra’s primary industrial, logistical, and agricultural corridor. Housing Kualanamu International Airport and vast palm oil and rubber plantations, the regency balances rapid urban industrialization with rural agricultural growth. Successfully securing a top-three national position in PPD 2026 solidifies Deli Serdang’s reputation as one of Sumatra’s most progressive and well-managed regional economies.