Ruteng, September 26, 2026 — That morning, the atmosphere at the Manggarai Regency Statistics Indonesia (BPS) office felt different. Staff members wore white attire for the morning assembly commemorating National Statistics Day (HSN) 2026 on Saturday (September 26).
Beneath the shared white attire lay a deeper message: statistics are not merely numbers arranged in tables, but a reflection of people's lives that serves as the foundation for various development decisions.
The HSN 2026 commemoration adopted the theme "Quality, Meaningful, and Impactful Statistics for a Sovereign, Just, and Prosperous Indonesia." This theme served as a reminder to BPS personnel not to stop at merely producing data, but to ensure that the statistics generated are truly understood and provide tangible benefits.
In the address by the Head of BPS Indonesia, Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti—read during the HSN 2026 assembly—it was emphasized that human lives lie behind every figure. There are families in need of well-targeted assistance, growing businesses, and young people seeking their future. When statistics are accurate and utilized correctly, development decisions can become better and more equitable.
This message is particularly relevant for BPS Manggarai Regency, which deals daily with diverse demands for development data. Figures regarding poverty, employment, education, agriculture, the economy, demographics, and other social indicators are ultimately more than just numbers; behind them lie the people of Manggarai, with their real needs, hopes, and challenges.
Therefore, quality statistics begin with a meticulous and honest process. Meaningful statistics require the ability to understand the story behind the numbers. Meanwhile, impactful statistics mean the data can assist the government and the public in making better decisions. These three aspects, as emphasized in the directive from the Head of BPS, are the responsibility of every individual in the statistical workforce—from field officers and data processors to the leadership team.
From the field to the foundation of development
Statistical work often takes place far from the public eye. Officers must travel to meet respondents, ensure information is recorded accurately, verify data, and rectify anomalies before a final figure is published.
This work was once again acknowledged in the 2026 National Statistics Day (HSN) address, particularly regarding the execution of the 2026 Economic Census (SE2026). The Head of BPS expressed appreciation to all employees and statistical partners who worked to ensure no economic activity went unrecorded.
The results of the SE2026 are not intended to remain merely as tables or publications. The data is expected to serve as a foundation for strengthening the Statistical Business Register, supporting the rebasing of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures, and providing an overview of the current structure and distribution of economic activities.
For BPS Manggarai Regency, this spirit reinforces the importance of statistical work at the local level. Data collected from the community becomes a vital source of information for understanding local conditions and supporting development planning, monitoring, and evaluation.
Institutionally, BPS is mandated to conduct basic statistical activities. At the regency/city level, BPS also performs a coordinating and guidance role regarding statistical activities carried out by government agencies.
This means BPS acts not only as a provider of basic statistical data but also as a supervisor of statistical data, ensuring that statistical operations within the government sector adhere to standards and support data integration.
Within the framework of "One Data Indonesia" (Satu Data Indonesia), the role of BPS as a data supervisor includes establishing data standards and standardized metadata structures and formats, issuing recommendations for statistical activities, and providing guidance on statistical operations.
When the numbers must speak
Technological advancements bring new challenges. As data volumes grow and the demand for information accelerates, technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and data science are opening up new opportunities for statistical processing and analysis.
However, the mandate of HSN 2026 serves as a reminder that the adoption of technology must not come at the expense of official statistical principles. Methodology, quality, transparency, ethics, security, and confidentiality must remain the foundation. Speed must also go hand in hand with accuracy and data comparability.
Amidst the overwhelming flow of information, BPS faces the challenge not only of producing statistics but also of helping the public understand them.
by Muhamad Andriansyah, Statistisi Ahli Pertama BPS Kabupaten Manggarai
