PTPN IV PalmCo employees have distributed 11.2 million liters of clean water and 1 million masks to communities affected by forest and land fires in Kalimantan, as dry-season conditions and smoke haze disrupt access to basic necessities.
PALMOILMAGAZINE, JAKARTA, INDONESIA — Employees of PT Perkebunan Nusantara IV (PTPN IV) PalmCo have distributed 11.2 million liters of clean water and 1 million masks to communities affected by forest and land fires (karhutla) in Kalimantan, providing emergency support as prolonged dry conditions intensify the impact of smoke haze.
The assistance includes 4 million liters of clean water for communities in West Kalimantan and 7.2 million liters for Central Kalimantan, according to the company.
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The 1 million masks were primarily distributed to schools in Central Kalimantan to help protect students from exposure to smoke and reduce the risk of respiratory problems, including acute respiratory infections.
The initiative has received support from local authorities and residents, who said access to clean water had become increasingly difficult during the peak of the dry season and wildfire incidents.
Tri Marianingsih, head of Sungai Bangkong urban village in West Kalimantan, said the water assistance had helped residents facing supply disruptions.
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“The clean water assistance is very meaningful for residents who experienced water supply problems during the peak of the dry season and forest and land fires,” Tri said, according to PalmOilMagazine, citing information from PalmCo on Friday, Oct. 23.
Bima Teja, a resident of Sungai Bangkong in Pontianak, said clean water and masks were particularly important as smoke affected daily activities, including those of children.
The assistance, he said, arrived at a critical time for families dealing with both water shortages and deteriorating air quality.
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PTPN IV PalmCo President Director Jatmiko K. Santosa said the initiative represents both the company’s social responsibility and its support for government efforts to mitigate the impact of forest and land fires in Kalimantan.
“Our involvement is not only about fulfilling our social responsibility, but also represents concrete support for government efforts to address the impact of forest and land fires in Kalimantan,” Jatmiko said.
He added that the company hopes the assistance will help ease the burden on affected communities.
Employee-Funded Solidarity Initiative
PTPN IV PalmCo Corporate Secretary Division Head Rizalmi Fitrah Z. A. said the aid campaign began as a voluntary initiative among employees responding to the emergency situation facing communities in Kalimantan.
The fundraising effort involved employees across the company’s organizational structure, from regional operations to the head office. Internal employee organizations, including the Forum Silaturahmi Muslim PalmCo (FOSIMP) and Persatuan Karyawan Kristiani PalmCo (PKKP), also participated.
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Rizalmi said the funds were collected entirely through employee contributions, with part of the fundraising process supported through collaboration with crowdfunding organizations.
PalmCo employees plan to continue distributing assistance in stages, including similar support and other forms of aid based on the needs of affected communities.
PalmCo Deploys Firefighting and Early-Warning Equipment
Alongside humanitarian assistance, PTPN IV PalmCo has strengthened its preparedness to prevent and respond to potential forest and land fires in its operational areas, particularly in Riau and Kalimantan.
PTPN IV Regional V Region Head Sudarma Bhakti Lessan said the company had placed personnel, equipment and supporting infrastructure on standby to respond to potential fire outbreaks and prevent hotspots from spreading.
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“We recognize that response efforts must go hand in hand with prevention in the field. Therefore, at the operational level, we have ensured that all emergency response teams and supporting infrastructure are on high alert to mitigate the potential spread of fire,” Sudarma said.
According to company data, its preparedness measures include 594 units of individual protective equipment, 48 units of team equipment and 155 units of hand tools.
The company has also prepared 80 water pumps and supporting equipment, along with 80 units of communication and transportation facilities.
In addition, PalmCo has deployed 41 early-warning weather monitoring facilities to support field surveillance and tracking of potential hotspots.
The combination of emergency assistance and enhanced fire preparedness forms part of PalmCo’s broader response to the wildfire season. While clean water and masks are aimed at addressing the immediate needs of affected communities, the company’s firefighting resources are intended to strengthen prevention, early detection and response in its operational areas. (P3)
