PGN's Harum Manis Program, Encourages Improvement of the Quality of Life of the Harjamukti Community

Depok – PT Perusahaan Gas Negara Tbk (PGN) Offtake Cimanggis Station has formed the HARUM MANIS (Harjamukti Unggul Masyarakat Optimis) program. This initiative is to improve the quality of life of the people of Harjamukti, Depok, West Java.

The HARUM MANIS program is motivated by efforts to overcome the accumulation of waste that has long been one of the main problems in Harjamukti Village, Depok. Therefore, HARUM MANIS is designed for community empowerment, so that waste can provide benefits both socially and economically to the people in Harjamukti, especially vulnerable groups such as the elderly and children. This also aims for the community to be able to live in a healthier and more sustainable environment.

Through the HARUM MANIS program, PGN encourages community-based waste management efforts, where activities will provide environmental, social and economic benefits to the community in RW 10 Harjamukti. Income from this waste processing is also allocated to support the Integrated Public Space that is friendly to the elderly and children, in addition to creating a comfortable and inclusive social space for all residents.

"The HARUM MANIS program is not only a solution to the waste challenge in Harjamukti, but also has an economic impact on the community. PGN hopes that through this program, the Harjamukti community can enjoy a better quality of life and support a greener and more sustainable environment," said Fajriyah Usman, Corporate Secretary of PGN.

There are several HARUM MANIS programs, the first is the Anyelir 2 Waste Bank.

This Waste Bank program processes organic and inorganic waste. Some processed products from this Waste Bank include aromatherapy candles from waste Cooking Oil and Eco Enzyme which utilizes household waste into multipurpose liquids, plant fertilizers, pest repellents, and can be used as external wound medicine. In addition, there is also Ecobrick utilizing simple inorganic waste that can be used to make chairs.

"There is a Citizen Hub initiative, which is an integrated public space that is used as a center for community activities. This integrated public space is used as a center for activities from various age groups in the social environment of RW 10 Harjamukti. It can be used for socio-economic space, citation or social and literacy space, and green economic space," explained Fajriyah.

The Socio-Economic Space is used for the community to carry out all social activities. Such as an integrated space or park equipped with various children's games and sports equipment that can be used by the elderly, a space for learning park activities, a space for exploration and creativity for youth.

Meanwhile, the Green Economic Space is a space consisting of a community economic center in the form of an UMKM Corner and limited agricultural land managed by the Farmer Group in RW 10 Harjamukti. Posyandu and posbindu are also held to support community accessibility to health in the RW unit. All of these spaces are attempted to be environmentally friendly spaces by using renewable energy to fulfill facilities such as the use of solar panels.

"The existing program also introduces the community to the use of environmentally friendly energy. Therefore, the Child and Elderly Friendly New Renewable Energy Park was initiated. This park utilizes solar panels, solar energy that is transformed into electrical energy to power all activities in the CITIZEN HUB, including lighting in the park. There is also the use of kinetic energy that is transformed into electrical energy. Kinetic energy is generated from children's play equipment and elderly sports which are then stored in batteries to be used as light," explained Fajriyah.

The Head of Cimanggis District, Dody Setiawan, welcomed this program positively. Dody said, "The use of solar panels as clean energy in the Cimanggis District area is something new that is present in the midst of society. With the presence of these solar panels, it can create sustainable benefits for the community."

Fajriyah continued, this environmentally friendly park was carried out as a company response to climate change. It is hoped that this activity can help reduce carbon emissions that already exist in the park. In addition, this park is also expected to be an educational park for children.

Lastly, there is the Poshemat initiative or an abbreviation of Posyandu Hebat Masyarakat Kuat Harjamukti. This program empowers the community by improving public health. This program emerged because of the problem of stunting which has become a national priority program by collaborating with the corporate sector in dealing with the problem.

"PGN Offtake Cimanggis Station as a company sector seeks to play a role in addressing stunting problems in the Harjamukti area. In addition to targeting stunting problems, this program also targets the elderly group. The Empowered Elderly Group is one of the solutions to the problems of vulnerable elderly groups, namely increasing social functioning in terms of physical and psychological, and can increase social cohesion," concluded Fajriyah.