SAPALEWA, fmipa.itb.ac.id, - Since mid-August 2025, Team 1 of the Patriot Locus Sapalewa Expedition, Bandung Institute of Technology, has carried out community service in the Sapalewa Transmigration Area, Central Maluku Regency, Maluku Province. This area has long been the center of transmigrant settlements in the North Seram District, but is still facing various problems that require cross-sectoral handling. Through the Patriot Transmigration Expedition program, the team was assigned to evaluate the transmigration area by exploring the social, economic and environmental dynamics of the area, as well as preparing data-based recommendations for improving transmigration governance.

The activity began with coordination with the provincial and district governments to gain an initial understanding of the regional development context. From the results of reviewing planning documents, spatial data, and historical archives of the transmigration program, the team then formulated a research approach that combines field observations, in-depth research, and social surveys. For more than two months, the team conducted observations in 14 administrative villages within the Sapalewa area, including SP 1 Huaulu as the main residential unit, to photograph the real conditions of life of the transmigrant community.

In the field, the team found that most basic services such as access to education, health, religious facilities and road infrastructure, bridges, lighting, internet access, irrigation and clean water were still limited. Many transmigrant houses have not been certified, while agricultural land has not been printed as planned. The shortage of teaching staff and the lack of educational facilities are also a concern, in addition to the absence of regional boundary maps which trigger administrative ambiguity between villages, especially those within the Sapalewa area. However, despite these challenges, the community showed strong fighting power and a strong spirit of survival, exploiting the potential of the land, building new social networks, and growing local economic activities which are slowly developing through the formation of Farmer Groups and Farmer Group Associations.
During the activities, the team also attempted to provide direct benefits to society outside of the main research agenda. Through computer teaching activities to village officials and school students, the team helps introduce basic digital skills that can be used for data management and administration. The team also assists farmer group associations (Gapoktan) in preparing the administrative requirements for registration of the Farmer Group Identification Number (NIKT) and Gapoktan Identification Number (NIG) so that Farmer Groups and Gapoktan are officially registered in the Simultaneous application managed by the Ministry of Agriculture. This will also support the recording of agricultural products and management of group data as the first step towards more orderly and transparent agricultural governance.

Through activities that combined field research and strengthening community capacity, Team 1 of the ITB Patriot Expedition succeeded in compiling a comprehensive portrait of the conditions of the Sapalewa transmigration area. The findings obtained will be the basis for preparing regional evaluation recommendations collaboratively with the regional government. More than just research, this activity reflects ITB's commitment to supporting sustainable development in the eastern region of Indonesia through a scientific approach that supports society.