As the only institution authorized to circulate rupiah currency throughout the territory of the Republic of Indonesia, Bank of Indonesia (BI) held Mobile Cash Expeditions in a number of Frontier, Outermost and Remote (3T) islands in the Talaud Islands Regency, North Sulawesi.

The expedition to Kabaruan, Lirung, Beo and Miangas islands, which are directly adjacent to Philippine waters, is Bank of Indonesia North Sulawesi branch effort to ensure that the rupiah currency is circulated and used throughout the territory of the Republic of Indonesia, from urban centre to the ends of the country.

BI cooperates with the Indonesian Navy to carry out Mobile Cash Expeditions. The Indonesian Navy's Main Base VIII, which is based in Manado, has prepared KRI Kakap-811 which is a patrol boat, as the main transportation for the expedition team as well as security.

The islands in Talaud Regency is classified as vulnerable, especially Miangas Island which is geographically very isolated from other islands and is closer to the Philippines. The island which has a population of about 700 people, the majority of its residents are fishermen, some are gardeners and only a few people are civil servants. Illegal border crossings and trade between residents and illegal fishermen often occurred.

The economic activity in the border area between two countries is common. Reflecting on the Sipadan/Ligitan Dispute in 2002 between Indonesia-Malaysia, where before the International Court of Justice, Malaysia was declared the rightful owner of Sipadan and Ligitan Islands because they had taken real administrative actions and used the Malaysian Ringgit (RM) currency in the daily lives of residents.

Ensuring the circulation of the Rupiah is important, because apart from being the only legal tender in the Republic of Indonesia, it is also a symbol of national sovereignty, and is a medium for maintaining the territorial integrity of the Republic of Indonesia, as regulated in Law No. 2011 concerning currency as the implementation of the mandate of the 1945 Constitution.

Money exchange activities are carried out in collaboration with Bank Sulutgo and BRI with a whole sale mechanism, where the bank collects money from the public to be exchanged. Money exchange is not done directly to the public to reduce direct contact, reduce crowds and prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Total of eleven BI employees from a number of areas, such as Manado, Jakarta, Palu, Gorontalo, Bandung and several other areas were also involved. Bringing a total of Rp 3 billion of new money in various denominations to be exchanged for the public.

Not only exchanging money, BI also delivered social assistance to community groups, and disseminate the love of pride and understanding about Rupiah for the general public and school students. BI also introduced its function as a central bank, socializing how to identify real money to prevent the circulation of counterfeit money with people living in 3T areas.

Photo and text : Adwit B Pramono

Editor : Yusran Uccang