MERAUKE – PT Papua Agro Lestari (PT PAL) is part of Tunas Sawa Erma Group, an oil palm plantation and mill in Merauke Regency, South Papua Province. In prioritizing its responsibility towards bettering the social climate, it continues to make innovations, such as “monthly communication events” in the innermost neighborhoods of Papua. (Monthly communication event is a company program that holds once-a-month dialogues with indigenous communities, on topics surrounding village and local economic developments). This time, Merauke’s Mutimangge Sub-village was picked as the location.
That Saturday (2/25), PT PAL employees delivered lessons on proper plant cultivation techniques, from building plant beds, making planting holes, applying fertilizers, to taking care of the young plants.
“Today’s event focuses on vegetable planting and cooking demo. Our goal with these activities is basically to strengthen the family-like relationship we’ve built with the people,” said Pratik Prihatin, PT PAL’s PR Manager.
The company also brought food saplings like kangkong, corn, Napa cabbage, cucumber, and eggplant to give to Mutimangge residents (the latter was represented by fellow local Hery Jerry Maikuin). Together, employees and locals did the planting on a site that both parties prepared earlier.
On PT PAL’s visit, Hery said, “Thank you [PT PAL] for the gathering, the [sapling] donation, and all the help we got throughout the planting process,”
Filled with a warm and friendly atmosphere, the monthly communication event drew to a close at lunch time, when Mutimangge mothers and company employees were ready with a specially-cooked meal.
This program is one way in which PT PAL fulfills its responsibility to build its social environment and honors its commitment to follow ISPO (Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil) standards – especially on meeting social responsibilities, financially empowering local communities, and developing business sustainably. (PR)
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