Pertamina Patra Niaga Fosters Healthy, Empowered, and Independent Communities Through GARBATERA Programme
PT Pertamina Patra Niaga Integrated Terminal (IT) Balongan has reaffirmed its commitment to delivering benefits to local communities through its Community Involvement & Development (CID) programme. One such initiative is the Gerakan Balongan Sehat dan Sejahtera (GARBATERA) programme, designed as a community empowerment movement addressing various social and health issues in the areas surrounding the Balongan operations in Indramayu Regency.
The main focus and activities of the GARBATERA programme include tackling stunting and meeting the nutritional needs of children and pregnant women, controlling and preventing infectious diseases, and sustainable community empowerment through supporting local MSMEs. VP Corporate Communication at Pertamina Patra Niaga, Kitty Andhora, said the programme is a tangible demonstration of the company’s presence in improving the lives of communities around its operational areas.
“Health and community empowerment are two fundamental pillars for creating an independent society. They are also a key investment for strengthening the nation and state in the future. Through the GARBATERA programme, Pertamina Patra Niaga is proud to be part of that effort,” said Kitty.
The GARBATERA programme was initiated by Pertamina Patra Niaga IT Balongan in 2025 with interventions addressing stunting cases in Balongan Village. In the same year, coinciding with National Nutrition Day, the programme was strengthened with the NASIHAT (Mother and Child Palace) campaign, distributing Supplementary Food (PMT) produced by the OMSET group — a local MSME that is itself part of the GARBATERA programme.
Kitty added that in the same year, Pertamina Patra Niaga also responded swiftly to dengue fever cases in Indramayu Regency by providing Posyandu 3M Plus cadre training, donating fogging equipment and distributing PMT to hundreds of toddlers and pregnant women.
In 2026, Pertamina Patra Niaga IT Balongan has carried out a number of health- and community empowerment-based programmes under the GARBATERA umbrella. In March 2026, a socialisation event on the use of solar power generation (PLTS) was held as part of the Energy-Independent Village Programme for the Ragem Jaya Farmers’ Group in Tegalurung Village.
In May 2026, the GARBATERA programme held a “Health Talk: Towards a Strong Balongan Through Early Family Health Detection at Home” event to strengthen the family’s role in early health detection. In the same month, Pertamina Patra Niaga IT Balongan enhanced the capacity and capabilities of the OMSET Group through fish processing training organised by the Indramayu Regency Cooperative, Trade and Industry Office (DISKOPDAGIN).
“Through the GARBATERA programme, Pertamina Patra Niaga is committed to delivering solutions from upstream to downstream. We are not only focused on improving nutrition to reduce stunting rates and dengue cases in Balongan, but also ensuring an economic multiplier effect is felt by residents. By involving local MSMEs in providing supplementary food, we are together creating a society that is physically healthy and economically prosperous,” Kitty explained.
The GARBATERA programme has received appreciation from communities around the operational area, particularly its beneficiaries, who say they are grateful to be part of a programme that has made a real difference in their lives. One of them is Eliyawati, chair of the Balongan OMSET Group. She said the programme has delivered a direct economic impact, especially for former Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) who have returned to the village.
“Since joining the GARBATERA programme, we women of the OMSET Group have been greatly helped, including several members who are former migrant workers. We received training in producing marketable healthy food, as well as support with packaging, marketing and business management. This programme has opened new hope for our independence,” said Eliyawati.
The benefits of the health services under this programme have also been felt directly by the community. Balongan village midwife Dini S.Z. said that since GARBATERA was implemented, villagers have truly felt its benefits. According to Dini, toddlers in the village have become healthier because they receive nutritious supplementary food, supported by the provision of health equipment at the posyandu, making health services more optimal for the community.
“We have felt the positive impact in improved service quality and community participation, with the hope that the health of Balongan’s children continues to improve and malnutrition rates can keep falling,” said Dini.
The series of benefits delivered by Pertamina Patra Niaga through the GARBATERA programme supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly the first goal (no poverty), the third (good health and well-being), the eighth (decent work and economic growth) and the seventeenth (partnerships to achieve the goals).
“The GARBATERA programme is a tangible expression of Pertamina Patra Niaga IT Balongan’s commitment to supporting healthy and prosperous lives for communities around its operational area. By uniting the health agenda with economic independence, GARBATERA is realising a Balongan community that is not only physically healthy but also economically prosperous,” Kitty concluded.