NORTHERN SUMATRA REGIONAL PLANNING

PROJECT PURPOSE IS TO ASSIST IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A COORDINATED PROVINCIAL AND REGIONAL PLANNING PROGRAM FOR "MAJOR DEVELOPMENT REGION A". THIS INITIAL EVALUATION IS BASED ON A SITE VISIT WHERE AN EVALUATIVE WORKSHOP AND GROUP DISCUSSIONS WERE CONDUCTED BY CONCERNED PARTICIPANTS. WORK IS PROGRESSING STEADILY ON THE 3 MAJOR PROJECT THRUSTS (REPELITA III ASSISTANCE AND INTERMEDIATE RANGE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMING, LONG RANGE REGIONAL PLANNING, AND ONE-YEAR ACTION PLANNING) AND ON 2 SUPPORTING THRUSTS (PROVINCIAL/REGIONAL INFORMATION SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT AND PROVINCIAL/REGIONAL MANPOWER DEVELOPMENT). BY 3/79, THE OUTPUT FOR ASSISTING IN FORMULATION OF PROVINCIAL REPELITA III PLANS WAS REALIZED IN RIAU PROVINCE. OTHER PROVINCES ARE WELL ALONG IN THE PREPARATION PROCESS. WITH RESPECT TO THE REGIONAL INFORMATION SYSTEM OUTPUT, RIAU PROVINCE HAS BUDGETED FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUCH A SYSTEM. REGARDING THE OUTPUT FOR ONE-YEAR ACTION PLANNING, QUESTIONNAIRES WERE DEVELOPED AND DISTRIBUTED TO THE PROVINCIAL DEVELOPMENT PLANNING BODIES (BAPPEDA) OF THE 4 PROVINCES TO ASCERTAIN THEIR TRAINING CONDITIONS AND NEEDS. SOME ON-THE-JOB TRAINING HAS ALSO BEEN CONDUCTED FOR THE PROJECT TEAM MEMBERS BY THE CONSULTANTS ON PLANNING SYSTEMS AND ANALYSIS. EXTERNAL FACTORS WHICH HAVE AFFECTED PROJECT INPUTS INCLUDE THE 11/15/78 DEVALUATION OF THE RUPIAH, THE REORGANIZATION OF THE COOPERATING AGENCY, AND A CONTEMPLATED CHANGE IN THE ENTIRE CONCEPT OF REGIONAL PLANNING BOUNDARIES BY THE MINISTRY OF PUBLIC WORKS. THESE FACTORS MAY NECESSITATE MODIFYING THE MAGNITUDE OF PROJECT OUTPUTS. LESSONS LEARNED: IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT DEFINITE STEPS BE TAKEN EARLY IN THE PROJECT BY RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES TO CLEARLY DEFINE AND OFFICIALLY ESTABLISH THE FORMAL PROJECT STRUCTURE. A PROJECT MUST BE DESIGNED SO AS TO ABSORB OR ADJUST TO UNAVOIDABLE CHANGES, PROBLEMS, DELAYS, OR SHORTFALLS WHICH ADDITIONAL FUNDING BY ITSELF MAY BE INSUFFICIENT TO CORRECT.