Manggarai Barat’s own Kodim marks first year as tourism hub grows

Labuan Bajo — The commander of Military District Command 1630/Manggarai Barat, Lieutenant Colonel Inf. Budiman Manurung, says the rapid development of Manggarai Barat justifies maintaining a dedicated territorial command, speaking at the unit’s first anniversary ceremony on Saturday, 19 September 2026 in Labuan Bajo, Nusa Tenggara Timur.

According to public radio outlet RRI, Budiman delivered his remarks during the first birthday of Kodim 1630/Manggarai Barat, marking one year since the command was formally inaugurated on 19 September 2025.

The command was established by regional army commander Major General TNI Piek Budyakto, then head of Kodam IX/Udayana, who presided over the inauguration ceremony in Labuan Bajo on Friday, 19 September 2025, according to reports by RRI and local daily Pos-Kupang.

Before the creation of Kodim 1630/Manggarai Barat, the regency fell under Kodim 1612/Manggarai, based in Ruteng on the Flores highlands, Indometro and other local coverage reported.

Tourism and national events cited as drivers

Budiman linked the formation of a separate command to Manggarai Barat’s expanding role as a tourism destination, highlighting Labuan Bajo’s status as a national priority tourism area and host of major events such as the G20 meetings and the ASEAN Summit, according to RRI’s report on the anniversary ceremony.

He said the creation of Kodim 1630/Manggarai Barat was intended to match defence and territorial administration needs with the regency’s development trajectory, presenting the unit as part of local governance and security infrastructure rather than a structure operating in isolation from civilian authorities.

During its first year, Kodim 1630/Manggarai Barat focused on internal consolidation and learning the characteristics of the regency, Budiman told RRI, describing a period of assessing local conditions and community needs linked to its role in public service and territorial defence.

The commander said the unit’s responsibilities should be carried out jointly with the regional administration, the armed forces, the police, vertical government agencies and other stakeholders, with the shared goal of supporting the core duties of the Manggarai Barat local government.

Support from local government and command structure

RRI reported that the Manggarai Barat administration has supported the command by providing land for the construction of its facilities, a contribution that was formally acknowledged during the first-anniversary events.

Pos-Kupang reported that the Kodim’s headquarters is located on Jalan Sernaru in Wae Kelambu subdistrict, Komodo district, close to central Labuan Bajo, and that the command oversees three subordinate Military Rayon Commands (Koramil) in Komodo, Lembor and Macang Pacar.

The command’s official website identifies Budiman Manurung as the first and current commander of Kodim 1630/Manggarai Barat and confirms that the unit was inaugurated by Pangdam IX/Udayana Piek Budyakto on 19 September 2025.

Local media reports in August 2025 quoted Budiman, then still commander of Kodim 1612/Manggarai, saying the new command in Labuan Bajo would be the newest army district command in the region and that its personnel would initially be drawn from other parts of Nusa Tenggara Timur.

Key dates for Kodim 1630/Manggarai Barat

• 19 September 2025 — Kodim 1630/Manggarai Barat inaugurated in Labuan Bajo by Pangdam IX/Udayana Piek Budyakto, with Lieutenant Colonel Inf. Budiman Manurung appointed as its first commander.
• 19 September 2026 — First anniversary of Kodim 1630/Manggarai Barat, marked with a ceremony in Manggarai Barat where Budiman outlined the unit’s role in supporting regional development, defence and public welfare.
• Pre-September 2025 — Manggarai Barat’s territory administered under Kodim 1612/Manggarai before being assigned its own district command.

In his anniversary remarks, Budiman said the command would continue strengthening cooperation with regional government and other institutions in its second year, with the stated aim of contributing to development and public welfare in Manggarai Barat through coordinated territorial defence and community-focused activities.

Sources

• RRI Ende regional: "Dandim Budiman: Perkembangan Manggarai Barat Dorong Pembentukan Kodim"
• Detik Bali/Nusra: "Pangdam Resmikan Kodim Manggarai Barat, Jaga Pariwisata Labuan Bajo"
• Pos-Kupang regional NTT: "Resmikan Kodim 1630/Manggarai Barat, Pangdam IX/Udayana Perintahkan Jaga Kondusifitas Wilayah"
• Indometro: "Dandim 1612 Manggarai, Letkol Infantri Budiman Manurung, Sebut Pembentukan Kodim Baru di Labuan Bajo"
• Kodim 1630/Manggarai Barat official website: "Tentang Kami"