MARIORIWAWO, fmipa.itb.ac.id, - Since the end of August 2025, the ITB Patriot Expedition team has been present bringing research enthusiasm from various cross-disciplinary fields to embark on a research journey in the Marioriwawo Transmigration Area, Soppeng Regency, South Sulawesi. Marioriwawo Transmigration Area became the locus of the journey of the Output 1 Team led by Arnasli Yahya, M.Si., Ph.D. (FMIPA ITB), with team members: Husnul Khatimah Syam (ITB), Farida (ITB), as well as Muhammad Ammar Dzikra and Dwina Wahdaniah from Hasanuddin University as an ITB partner. This team is part of the national program "Recommendations for Evaluation of Transmigration Areas" with the mission of compiling recommendation output for evaluation based on spatial, social, economic, ecological and institutional data in the Marioriwawo transmigration area.
The first step for the Patriot Kalong Team to move onto the field

During two months of implementation, the progress of activities has reached more than 50% of the target. Activities began with intensive coordination with various parties, including the Regent and Deputy Regent of the District. Soppeng, DPMPTSP NAKERTRANS, Bappelitbangda, PUPR Service, Health Service, ATR/BPN, Environment Service, Social Service, Head of Marioriwawo District, Head of Goarie Community Health Center, Head of Tanjonge Community Health Center, as well as village governments in Watu and Marioritengnga. This initial collaboration paved the way for collecting spatial, social, economic and institutional data at UPT Watu – the focus of the Patriot Kalong Marioriwawo team's observations in the transmigration area.
Searching for rivers, bridges and accessibility of UPT Watu

One of the main activities carried out by the team was exploring rivers and suspension bridges which act as vital routes for the transmigrant community at UPT Watu. The river not only functions as a water source, but also as an informal means of transportation for the community to transport crops and building materials.
Field findings show that the physical condition of the river is still relatively natural and has great potential to be developed as part of the basic infrastructure network of the transmigration area. Optimizing river utilization, both through increasing accessibility and strengthening its supporting functions, has the potential to increase the economic and social mobility of transmigrant communities in the UPT Watu area.
Hearing the Voices of the UPT Watu Community

Even though not all of the transmigrant communities were found, at every step stories emerged of the people's persistent and inspiring spirit. They expressed the hope that connectivity between settlements would be further improved, and that access to public facilities could be developed to support economic and social activities, especially access to health services which are difficult to navigate, because apart from passing through dirt and rocky roads, the journey to health services requires quite a long distance.
Apart from field observations, the Patriot Kalong Marioriwawo team also took a participatory approach with various community groups. Through casual dialogue in the yard and garden, community aspirations regarding sustainable development, improving the quality of education and health services, and strengthening economic activities based on agricultural products are channeled.
Forum Group Discussion: Voices from the Field

As a form of participatory approach, the Patriot Kalong Marioriwawo team carried out a Forum Group Discussion (FGD) with the local government, community leaders and the transmigrant community. This forum discusses local demographic, ecological, socio-cultural, institutional and economic conditions. One of the main recommendations produced is the importance of increasing connectivity between residential units and access to economic facilities.
FGD juga menjadi ruang penting bagi masyarakat untuk menyampaikan aspirasi, khususnya berkenan dengan status lahan, kesehatan, pendidikan, dan peran kelembagaan lokal. Beberapa masyarakat mengemukakan perlunya kejelasan pengelolaan fasilitas kesehatan serta peningkatan sarana jalan agar hasil panen dapat lebih mudah dipasarkan. Aspirasi yang disampaikan menggambarkan optimisme kolektif untuk membangun UPT Watu yang mandiri, produktif, dan terkoneksi dengan pusat-pusat ekonomi di sekitarnya. Masyarakat berharap agar keberlanjutan pembangunan terus dijaga, serta kemitraan antara akademisi dan masyarakat dapat terus berlangsung.

Field Realities and Local Economic Potential 
Until early November 2025, activity achievements have reached 80%. The Patriot Kalong Marioriwawo team carried out basic infrastructure mapping, distributed household questionnaires, and verified socio-economic data. Analysis is carried out not only on maps, but also through direct understanding of people's daily lives. Using a participatory research approach, the results of data collection were then processed into the basis for preparing a recommendation document for evaluation of the Marioriwawo transmigration area at UPT Watu. These recommendations include directions for local economic development, improving connectivity, and strengthening community institutions as the foundation for sustainable development. In the economic sector, the team identified the region's leading commodities, such as corn for animal feed, which is the backbone of the transmigrant economy. Data on market prices and distribution chains was collected, while discussions with farmer groups revealed the potential for processing crops as added value.
Spirit of Collaboration

Behind the challenges of the field—from steep roads to unpredictable weather—the enthusiasm of the ITB Expedition Patriots never diminished. The support of the local government and active community participation is a reflection of real collaboration between academics and the community in realizing a more inclusive and productive UPT Watu transmigration area. This activity shows that science and technology knowledge can be combined with social empathy and a spirit of service, making the ITB Patriot Expedition not just an academic activity, but a real journey towards change.