For Advertorial, 13 August 2004<\/p>\n
PT Medco E&P Indonesia's Comdev program<\/p>\n
'Providing the hook, not the fish'<\/p>\n
As a private national oil and gas company, PT Medco E&P
\nIndonesia (Medco E&P) has paid strong attention to improving the
\nwelfare of the people and preserving the environment surrounding
\nits work areas since the early years of its operations.<\/p>\n
Medco E&P, which changed its name from PT Exspan Nusantara in
\nApril 19, 2004, has made every possible effort to improve the
\nquality of life of the people surrounding the company's operation
\nsites.<\/p>\n
This commitment is realized through the implementation of the
\ncompany's Community Development (Comdev) Program, which covers a
\nnumber of activities not only in education and health but also in
\nthe empowerment of the people's economy.<\/p>\n
In order to effectively achieve its goals, Medco E&P carefully
\nformulates its Comdev programs with the help of local
\nadministrations and community leaders. The involvement of local
\npeople is necessary to ensure that the programs can match the
\nreal needs of residents. With this approach, Medco E&P hopes its
\nComdev programs will not only meet the basic needs of the people,
\nbut will also enable them to become economically independent in
\nthe long term.<\/p>\n
In the field of education, for example, besides providing
\neducational facilities such as school buildings and laboratories,
\nMedco E&P also offers scholarships to students from the
\nelementary school level to the university level. In addition, the
\ncompany also pays serious attention to improving the welfare of
\nteachers.<\/p>\n
A number of Comdev programs in the education field have been
\nsuccessfully implemented. Medco E&P has, for example, built a
\njunior high school in Talang Ubi village in Muara Enim regency,
\nSouth Sumatra, where a number of the company's operation sites
\nare located. The company also built additional classrooms and a
\nlibrary at Talang Bonot Elementary School and Talang Air Guci
\nElementary School in Rambang Dangku district, Muara Enim, as well
\nas providing a laboratory and all the supporting facilities at
\nSekayu High School in the regency.<\/p>\n
A scholarship program is offered to students from elementary
\nschools to the university level. In addition, the company has
\nbuilt Islamic schools for junior high school and high school
\nstudents in Lais village, Musi Banyuasin (Muba) regency.<\/p>\n
Medco E&P is also concerned with issues related to public
\nhealth. In this field, besides offering free medical care and
\nmass circumcisions, the company has provided financial aid for
\nimprovements at hospitals in Sekayu and Muara Enim, and has also
\ndonated a boat that can function as a mobile public health clinic
\nfor people living along the Musi River in Banyuasin regency.<\/p>\n
The Empowerment of Small-Size Companies<\/p>\n
One of the main priorities of Medco E&P's Comdev Program is to
\nsupport the development of small businesses. In cooperation with
\nlocal governments, the company provides revolving financial aid
\nand management training for local farmers. The program has had
\ngood results. The life of Syaifuddin, a farmer in Lais village,
\nMuba regency, for example, changed for the better after he joined
\nthe company's duck breeding program. He now has more than 1,000
\nducks from only 100 ducks when he first joined the program. His
\nmonthly income has also increased from Rp 45,000 to Rp 500,000.<\/p>\n
Another resident, carpenter Sugianto, who formerly made doors
\nand chairs only, now produces cupboards, wooden decorations for
\nwedding ceremonies and tables after receiving financial and
\ntechnical assistance through the company's Comdev Program. Now he
\nruns a furniture shop in Lubuklinggau and Muba, with a monthly
\nincome of more than Rp 1 million.<\/p>\n
Medco E&P also assists fish farmers. At least 44 fish farmers
\nin Lais and Sekayu, and 10 fish farmers in Petaling village, also
\nin Muba regency, have benefited from the company's Comdev
\nProgram. With the help of the company, these farmers have been
\nable to multiply their fish production.<\/p>\n
Besides helping farmers, Medco E&P's Comdev Program also
\nprovides financial assistance to small-scale companies. In
\ncooperation with its subsidiary PT Medco Inti Dinamika, Medco E&P
\nruns a revolving loan program called Micro Finance Service (MFS).
\nThe program is currently open to small business owners such as
\ngrocers, vegetable sellers, carpenters, traditional bakers and
\nbarbers living near the company's Kaji oil field in Semogra
\ndistrict, Muba regency. This program has provided loans totaling
\nRp 96.60 million and has benefited at least 185 small business
\nowners.<\/p>\n
The company also has a similar program at its operation areas
\nin Tarakan, East Kalimantan, and Pelalawan regency, Riau.<\/p>\n
Environmental Development<\/p>\n
Medco E&P pays attention to the environment. In this field,
\nthe company has been actively involved in reforestation programs,
\nproviding seeds for mango trees, durians, leeches, palms, teak
\ntrees and orchids to farmers near its operation sites. Among the
\nbeneficiaries of this program were the residents of Sanga-sanga
\nvillage in Kutai Kertanegara regency, East Kalimantan.<\/p>\n
In Tarakan, Medco E&P has also introduced a \"green\" program by
\ndistributing over 6,500 seeds of waru, mahang, polarium, acacia,
\nbamboo and palm trees to local residents.<\/p>\n
Public Facilities<\/p>\n
More than 9,000 families in Sekayu, Muba regency, South
\nSumatra, can now enjoy clean water from a water treatment plant
\n(WTP) built by Medco E&P. In Sanga-sanga, Kutai Kertanegara
\nregency, East Kalimantan, the company has also built mineral
\nwater facilities for residents.<\/p>\n
Medco E&P has provided a generator with a capacity of 10 KVA
\nfor the residents of Kerumutan village in Pelalawan regency,
\nRiau. Some villages in South Sumatra have also received
\ngenerators.<\/p>\n
Sponsorship for PON XVI<\/p>\n
In supporting the 16th National Games (PON) 2004, which will
\nbe held later this year in Palembang, the capital of South
\nSumatra, where a number of Medco E&P's oil fields are located,
\nthe company had built an international standard sports hall at a
\ntotal cost of Rp 10.5 billion, in addition to its regular
\nsponsorship for a 10-kilometer run in Sekayu. The sports hall,
\nwhich has four badminton courts and a seating capacity of 1,200
\npeople, was inaugurated by President Megawati Soekarnoputri on
\nJune 26 this year.<\/p>\n
In 2003, Medco E&P received the PADMA Award from President
\nMegawati for its success in implementing its Comdev Program and
\nfor its strong commitment to improving the welfare of local
\ncommunities.<\/p>\n
This achievement proves that the company's motto --
\n\"Developing together with the Community\" -- is not merely a
\nslogan. Helping local communities become economically independent
\nis not an easy job, but with its concept of \"Providing the hook,
\nnot the fish\", Medco E&P is sure its community development
\nprograms will be able to stimulate local economic growth.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/for-advertorial-13-august-2004-1447899208",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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