PLN EPI strengthens resilience of coastal women in Cilacap to face disasters
PT PLN Energi Primer Indonesia (PLN EPI) is strengthening the resilience and preparedness of coastal women in Bunton Village, Adipala District, Cilacap Regency, Central Java, in facing disaster threats.
PLN EPI Corporate Secretary Mamit Setiawan stated in Jakarta that this Corporate Social and Environmental Responsibility (TJSL) initiative aims to equip women as community-based disaster risk reduction agents, while supporting the implementation of the National Disaster Management Agency’s (BNPB) Disaster Resilient Village (Destana) programme. The activity, titled ‘Srikandi Movement, Disaster Resilient Women’, is part of PLN EPI’s commitment to strengthening the social resilience of communities surrounding the Central Java 2 Adipala Power Plant operational area through sustainable empowerment.
The three-day training, held from 29-31 July 2026, combined theoretical learning, field practice, disaster simulations, and institutional strengthening for local groups. Twenty women from Bunton Village received training on disaster risk reduction, risk communication, early warning systems, first aid, self-evacuation, protection of vulnerable groups, post-disaster psychosocial support, and the development of community-based action plans. PLN EPI also distributed emergency response equipment, including safety gear, first aid kits, communication tools, and administrative supplies to support community-level preparedness.
Through this initiative, it is hoped that a group with strong institutional capacity, legality, and a clear work plan will be formed, capable of synergising with village governments, the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), and disaster volunteers to build a sustainable preparedness system.
The Chair of Srikandi PLN EPI and Director of Gas and Fuel at PLN EPI, Erma Melina Sarahwati, noted that women hold a strategic position in building a disaster-aware culture as they serve as protectors of the family and drivers of preparedness in their surroundings. “Bunton Village is a coastal area facing the Indian Ocean, making it vulnerable to earthquakes, tsunamis, tidal flooding, abrasion, and extreme weather. Therefore, disaster risk reduction must begin long before a disaster occurs through increased community capacity,” she said.
Erma believes that disaster awareness and culture are first built within the family environment, with mothers serving as the primary educators for children. When a mother understands how to recognise risks, save herself, and protect her family, that knowledge is passed to the next generation, forming the foundation of a resilient society. According to Erma, these efforts are not merely about providing training but represent a long-term social investment to strengthen community institutions so they can serve as the frontline in mitigation, preparedness, emergency response, and post-disaster recovery.
Adipala District Head Firdaus Azy Mutia appreciated PLN EPI’s contribution to increasing the preparedness of coastal communities. Similarly, the Head of the Kroya BPBD Unit, Edi Purwanto, stated that the current disaster management paradigm has shifted from focusing on handling disasters as they occur to building a community that is prepared before they arrive. Rastiani, Chair of the Bunton Village Disaster Resilient Women Group, added that the training provided invaluable knowledge regarding local disaster potential, evacuation steps, and methods to protect children, the elderly, and vulnerable groups.