Manggarai, August 18, 2026 — PT Pupuk Indonesia (Persero), through the 2026 BUMN Volunteer Service Program (Relawan Bakti BUMN/RBB), has carried out disaster response activities for communities affected by the earthquake in Ruteng, Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). The initiative reflects Pupuk Indonesia and state-owned enterprises’ commitment to supporting communities while providing education to strengthen their preparedness for potential disasters.

Through activities held in Ruteng, Manggarai, Pupuk Indonesia and its volunteers distributed assistance to earthquake-affected communities in Meler Village and Belang Turi Village. The assistance consisted of 344 packages of basic necessities, 688 blankets, as well as health check-ups and medicines for residents in need.

Pupuk Indonesia Director of Human Resources and General Affairs, Tina T. Kemala Intan, said this year’s RBB program holds special significance as the volunteers arrived while communities in Ruteng were dealing with the impact of the earthquake. Therefore, RBB activities are not only focused on community empowerment, but also on providing humanitarian assistance and supporting disaster response efforts.

“The volunteers are expected to adapt the programs they will implement into educational activities so that communities become better prepared to respond to major earthquakes, such as the one that has occurred in Ruteng for the first time,” Tina said.

She expressed hope that the assistance and volunteer activities would help ease the burden on affected communities while supporting their recovery and enabling them to resume their daily activities. She also emphasized that volunteers should play a role in the broader recovery process.

In addition to disaster response efforts, the 2026 BUMN Volunteer Service Program in Ruteng is also strengthening community empowerment programs previously implemented by Pupuk Indonesia. These include the agriculture-based Tani Maju Makmur Sejahtera (TAJUMASE) Program and the SEMAI Program, which focuses on capacity building for the disability community at Santu Damian.

The TAJUMASE Program is designed to improve agricultural productivity and contribute to community welfare. Meanwhile, the SEMAI Program is expected to strengthen the capacity of the disability community, enabling its members to further develop their skills and become more empowered.

In 2026, BP BUMN appointed Pupuk Indonesia and Petrokimia Gresik to implement the BUMN Volunteer Service Program in Ruteng. The program received appreciation from BP BUMN’s Coordinator for Social and Environmental Responsibility (TJSL), Rugun Hutapea.

Rugun expressed concern over the earthquake that struck East Nusa Tenggara and hoped that the initiative would contribute to accelerating post-disaster recovery in Ruteng, allowing communities to resume their normal activities.

She explained that volunteers from Pupuk Indonesia had previously been scheduled to visit Ruteng to carry out RBB programs. However, following the earthquake, the volunteers’ activities were also redirected toward providing assistance to support the recovery of affected communities.

She also expressed appreciation for the contributions made by Pupuk Indonesia and the volunteers. According to Rugun, as Pupuk Indonesia continues to advance, its capacity to contribute to communities will also grow.

Through collaboration among BP BUMN, Pupuk Indonesia, and BUMN volunteers, the 2026 RBB program in Ruteng is expected to go beyond emergency relief. The program is intended to contribute to the recovery process while continuously strengthening community preparedness and self-reliance.

“Through the RBB program, volunteers will engage with communities through TJSL programs that deliver tangible benefits to the people of Ruteng. We hope these programs will be sustainable,” Rugun concluded.