Pertamina Supports 600 Orphans Affected by COVID-19 Pandemic in Sulawesi
MANADO – The COVID-19 pandemic is still not over. The impact of this pandemic is quite significant in Indonesia. Not only the economic but also the social impact, especially to children who have lost their families due to the COVID-19 virus.
Since the early days of the pandemic, Pertamina Group has continued to support the affected people. In Sulawesi, in particular, not only masks and necessities during critical times at the beginning of the pandemic, but Pertamina has also supported in many other ways, such as encouraging MSMEs to continue to run amid the pandemic through training and product promotion. One of them was empowering the deaf community in the Bitung area to find updated information about COVID-19 and helping empower the community by the training to make masks when masks were in high demand.
Pertamina through Pertamina Patra Niaga Sulawesi Region, Pertamina Geothermal Energy Lahendong Area, and Pertamina Foundation collaborated with the Social Affairs Agency to provide educational assistance to orphans whose families were affected by COVID-19 in Sulawesi. This activity is also part of Pertamina’s 64th Anniversary celebrations.
On Tuesday, November 23, 2021, this educational assistance was symbolically given at the Pertamina Sales Sulutgo Area Manado Office, attended by the Secretary of the Social Affairs Agency of North Sulawesi Province, Albert Dj. Mamarimbing, Head of Social Affairs Agency of Manado, Sammy A. R Kaawoan, Director of Finance and Human Resources of Pertamina Foundation, Medianto Tjatur Herawan, Executive GM of Pertamina Patra Regional Sulawesi, Agus Dwi Jatmoko and GM of Pertamina Geothermal Energy Lahendong Area, Ahmad Yani.
In addition to the symbolic activity for the orphans whose families died from COVID-19 at the Pertamina Manado Branch Office, Pertamina representatives also visited one of the orphanages in the Tikala District, Manado.
The Pertamina representative immediately went to the house of the guardian of the orphans. Diana Lumita, as the guardian or grandmother of Muhammad Azka Al-Fatih, said she was happy with the assistance given by Pertamina Group to her grandson.
“Both of his parents used to work, so I usually took care of Azka. His parents died of COVID-19 in July 2021. As his grandmother, I am glad that Pertamina is paying attention to us. Besides, I am not working,” she said.
Diana also said that Azka is only three years old, and he does not know that her parents are dead. Diana also said the assistance given by Pertamina was beneficial amid her conditions.
Secretary of the Social Affairs Agency of North Sulawesi Province, Albert Dj. Mamarimbing expressed his appreciation to Pertamina for the assistance. “This program is directed to the community. So, people affected by the pandemic are greatly helped. On behalf of the North Sulawesi Provincial Government, I appreciate Pertamina’s program, which cares about orphans,” he said.
According to the North Sulawesi Provincial Office, more than 200 children become orphans due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In line with what was conveyed by the Secretary of the North Sulawesi Provincial Social Affairs Agency, the Head of the Manado Social Affairs Agency also appreciated it. “Appreciation to Pertamina for creating social services as its anniversary celebration. This activity is highly expected by children whose parents died from COVID-19. Currently, in Manado, about 30 children have been recorded. It is proof that Pertamina cares,” he said.
Meanwhile, Area Manager of Communication, Relations, and CSR of Pertamina Patra Niaga Sulawesi Region, Laode Syarifuddin Mursali, said that this assistance activity was focused on orphans whose parents died from COVID-19. “We would like to thank all those who have supported the provision of compensation to 6,400 orphans throughout Indonesia, including 600 children from North Sulawesi and South Sulawesi,” he said.
Laode also added that CSR programs like this are expected to motivate children to live their lives. “Pertamina is a company that has the mandate to distribute energy to the community. It is not limited to the energy we sell to the public such as fuel and LPG, but more than that, we are here to give energy to the community by reaching out together to solve social problems,” he concluded.
Pertamina as a State-Owned Enterprise (BUMN) consistently encourages the practice of ESG (Environment, Social, and Governance) and SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals). It is essential to be involved and take an active role in overcoming COVID-19 in Indonesia, including supporting children affected by the pandemic. *PTM SULAWESI