The Gunungmasigit Village Government, Cipatat District, West Bandung Regency, spoke out regarding the widespread narrative on social media concerning the construction of the Merah Putih Village Cooperative (Kopdes). Reports had circulated claiming that the economic facility was built on top of a mountain located within the Stone Garden tourist area.
The Head of Gunungmasigit Village, Tarkopa, firmly dismissed the misleading information. He explained that the actual location of the building is at the foot of the mountain and not at the highest point as widely discussed. According to him, the distance between the building site and the residential area in RW 9 is only about 100 meters.
Tarkopa revealed that the selection of the location began when the village administration was asked to recommend strategic village treasury land. The village government then proposed five location options, and PT Agrinas Pangan Nusantara selected the area in the Stone Garden zone as it was considered to have the most potential to support the cooperative's operations.
Although the village administration was involved in providing the land, Tarkopa emphasized that the village government took no part in the physical construction of the building, which has now reached 90 percent completion. The building itself covers an area of 20 x 30 meters.
Moving forward, the Gunungmasigit Village Government hopes that the presence of the Merah Putih Kopdes can synergize with the Tourism Awareness Group (Pokdarwis) and local business operators. The expectation is that the cooperative will support the supply chain for food stalls and shops around the Stone Garden tourist destination, thereby generating a tangible economic impact for local residents.
