A total of 10 villages in Luwu Regency were officially designated as Disaster-Resilient Villages (Desa Tangguh Bencana/Destana) by Luwu Regent H. Patahudding in Kadundung Village, Latimojong District, on Sunday (September 20, 2026). Six of the 10 villages have received assistance through the Destana program, implemented in collaboration between the Luwu Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), PT Masmindo Dwi Area (MDA), and PUSPENA Universitas Cokroaminoto Palopo (UNCP).

The six villages are Ulusalu, Tolajuk, Boneposi, Rante Balla, and Kadundung in Latimojong District, as well as Bonelemo Village in Bajo Barat District. The other four villages are Karangkarangan, Lengkong, and Padang Kalua in Bua District, and Bosso Timur Village in Walenrang Utara District.

The assistance is part of a joint effort to support the Luwu Regency Government’s program to strengthen community preparedness in facing disaster risks. The program also serves as an implementation of Jaga Keselamatan Desa, one of the pillars of MDA’s Jaga Desa Program, which was developed based on community aspirations through FORDES MATAPPA.

In its implementation, BPBD Luwu Regency serves as the leading sector, with support from MDA and PUSPENA UNCP in providing assistance and strengthening community capacity. The collaboration has also introduced the Destana WebGIS, a web-based geospatial information system containing information on disaster events, potential hazards, and disaster-prone locations to support community mitigation and preparedness efforts.

The Destana designation ceremony was also accompanied by a disaster response simulation involving BPBD Luwu Regency, Destana members, the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI), and MDA’s Emergency Response Team (ERT).

Luwu Regent H. Patahudding expressed his appreciation for the collaboration among various stakeholders in strengthening community preparedness for disasters.

“Alhamdulillah, with MDA and Universitas Cokroaminoto working together with the Luwu Regency Government, we have developed several programs that can help mitigate disasters that have occurred as well as potential future disasters. Hopefully, disasters will not occur again,” said Patahudding.

According to Patahudding, the experience of facing disasters in 2024 has provided an important lesson for the community, particularly in Latimojong District, to improve preparedness. He expressed his hope that the Destana program could continue to expand, both in areas surrounding the mining operation and in other parts of Luwu Regency.

MDA Director of Human Capital and Corporate Service, Muhammad Suhada, who also attended the event, said that the Destana assistance program is part of MDA’s commitment to supporting the Luwu Regency Government, through BPBD, in strengthening community preparedness to face disaster risks.

“Resilience in facing disasters must be built before a disaster occurs. Therefore, what we promote is not only preparedness for emergency situations, but also the knowledge and capabilities of communities to identify and manage risks in their respective areas. Through collaboration with BPBD, PUSPENA UNCP, FORDES MATAPPA, and village communities, we hope that the capacities that have been developed can continue to be strengthened,” said Suhada.

Chairman of PUSPENA UNCP, Dr. Ichwan Muis, said that the Destana assistance program is aimed at enabling communities to better understand risks and independently develop disaster preparedness.

“Communities are encouraged to identify potential hazards and disaster risks in their areas, understand mitigation measures, and have the capacity to respond to emergency situations. The Destana WebGIS is also part of the effort to provide information that can be utilized by communities and village governments to support preparedness based on local conditions,” said Ichwan.

The designation of the six villages that have received assistance is part of a joint effort by the Luwu Regency Government, BPBD, MDA, PUSPENA UNCP, and village communities to build sustainable village resilience.