PT Masmindo Dwi Area (MDA), in collaboration with the Luwu Regency Government, held a Joint Training and Preparedness Simulation for Drought and Forest and Land Fires at the Latimojong Sub-district Office compound.

The activity was part of a series of follow-up initiatives stemming from previous coordination between the Luwu Regency Government and MDA to strengthen preparedness and synergy in addressing potential droughts and forest and land fires, particularly in Latimojong Sub-district.

More than 80 participants representing 12 villages across Latimojong Sub-district took part in the activity. Participants included representatives of Disaster-Resilient Villages (Desa Tangguh Bencana or Destana) established in 10 villages, Community Protection (Linmas) personnel, women's groups, religious leaders, youth representatives, and other community members. Representatives of Regional Government Agencies (OPDs), the Latimojong Sub-district Leadership Coordination Forum (Muspika), and village heads were also in attendance.

During the activity, several stakeholders delivered presentations and guidance in accordance with their respective roles. These included the Head of Latimojong Sub-district; the Luwu Regency Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), represented by its Executive Head and disaster risk analysis staff; MDA's Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and Emergency Response Team (ERT); the Latimojong Forest Management Unit (KPH); the Fire and Rescue Service (Disdamkar); the Environmental Agency (DLH), represented by its Secretary; and the Commander of the Bastem Military District Command (Danramil).

On the occasion, the MDA team also introduced a satellite-based hotspot monitoring system accessible via computers and mobile devices. The technology features an automatic alert function that notifies users when hotspots are detected, both within MDA's Contract of Work (CoW) area and in the surrounding areas within a radius of up to 35 kilometers. In addition, MDA's ESG and ERT teams provided training on burn victim management, while KPH Latimojong and Disdamkar delivered materials on land fire prevention and response.

The Executive Head of the Luwu Regency BPBD, Drs. Andi Baso Tenriesa, M.PA., M.Si., expressed his appreciation for the collaboration between BPBD and MDA in strengthening community preparedness for potential disasters.

“We appreciate the collaboration between the Luwu Regency BPBD and PT Masmindo Dwi Area in strengthening preparedness for droughts and forest and land fires in Latimojong Sub-district. We hope this training will improve the readiness of personnel and the community and be followed up with concrete action. Synergy between the government, the business sector, and the community is key to building a disaster-resilient Luwu. Stay resilient and be prepared to stay safe!” said the Executive Head of the Luwu Regency BPBD.

Echoing this statement, MDA's Chief Mining Engineer (KTT), Mustafa Ibrahim, emphasized that cross-sector collaboration is an important step in strengthening mitigation efforts against potential droughts and forest and land fires.

“Collective awareness and preparedness are key to preventing disaster risks and protecting communities and the environment, particularly in Latimojong Sub-district,” said Mustafa Ibrahim.

All parties agreed that strengthening community participation is essential to preventing and managing forest and land fires. Community involvement at the village level is considered strategically important, from detecting potential fires at an early stage to supporting initial response efforts before fires spread.

During the discussion session, participants raised several challenges faced by communities in dealing with potential droughts and forest and land fires. These challenges were discussed collectively to identify solutions and follow-up measures that could be implemented collaboratively to strengthen preparedness and improve the effectiveness of disaster response in Latimojong Sub-district.

Participants also exchanged information on land-clearing practices involving burning that are still found in some communities, as well as preventive measures based on local wisdom. Another proposal was to accelerate the establishment of Destana groups in villages that do not yet have them, particularly in remote areas such as Tabang Village, to further strengthen community preparedness.

In addition to presentations and discussions, the activity included practical field exercises on firefighting techniques led by Disdamkar. Participant representatives took part in the simulation to improve their understanding and develop basic skills for responding to fire emergencies.

At the end of the activity, MDA handed over 15 large educational banners to be installed throughout the villages and at the offices of the Latimojong Sub-district Leadership Coordination Forum (Muspika). The banners are expected to help raise public awareness of forest and land fire prevention.

As a follow-up measure, the Luwu Regency BPBD requested the Head of Latimojong Sub-district and all village heads to prepare and submit forest and land fire management action plans for their respective areas. The stakeholders will also conduct a joint evaluation coordinated by BPBD to review the implementation of the activity and identify opportunities to organize similar initiatives in other sub-districts.

Through this collaboration, MDA, together with the local government, security personnel, and communities, continues to promote stronger preparedness and cross-sector coordination in addressing the threats of drought and forest and land fires. These efforts are expected to strengthen disaster prevention and response through more targeted, effective, and sustainable measures in Latimojong Sub-district.