OGAN KOMERING ILIR, Beritategas.com — The Government of the Regency (Pemkab) Ogan Komering Ilir (OKI), South Sumatra, is encouraging village governments to strengthen the prevention of forest and land fires (karhutla) through budget allocation, patrols, and early provision of equipment. This effort is aimed at increasing preparedness, especially in areas prone to fires.
Regent of OKI H. Muchendi Mahzareki said that prevention must be part of the planning for the Village Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBDes), not something done only after fires occur.
"Don't let fires happen before we act. Preparations must be made earlier. At least conduct patrols and prepare budgets for prevention and mitigation, especially in areas prone to forest and land fires," said Muchendi during a Coordination Meeting on Village Financial Management in the context of Forest and Land Fire Mitigation for the 2026 Fiscal Year.
He asked village heads to map vulnerable areas, determine priority needs, prepare firefighting equipment, and involve the community in patrols and early detection. Budget limitations, he said, must be addressed with proper planning without neglecting financial management regulations.
"Whether the budget is large or small, it is still state funds that we must be accountable for. Therefore, planning is important, financial management is important, and even the implementation must be in accordance with regulations," he said.
Muchendi added that handling forest and land fires requires coordination between village, regency, provincial governments, the central government, the community, and the private sector. The OKI Regency Government will encourage assistance through relevant regional perangkat so that village budget usage complies with regulations.
Head of the Ogan Komering Ilir (OKI) Community and Village Empowerment Service (PMD), Hendri, said that the coordination meeting aims to strengthen village governments' understanding of the use of Village Fund Budgets (APBDes) for the prevention and mitigation of forest and land fires, including legal aspects and accountability.
Based on the report from the OKI PMD Service, as many as **283 villages have allocated budgets for forest and land fire prevention in 2026 with a total of IDR 1,816,516,850 or approximately IDR 1.81 billion**. These funds are used for, among other things, the procurement of water pumps and hoses, prevention operations, and the installation of billboards and banners with appeals.
"Village governments need to understand the provisions of financial management so that the budget for preventing and mitigating forest and land fires can be allocated appropriately, transparently, and accountably," said Hendri.
As a form of commitment, all village heads and sub-district heads signed an integrity pact to encourage responsibility in preventing forest and land fires and to ensure that budget usage is accountable.
On the same occasion, the PMD Office OKI reported that the distribution of the Village Fund Allocation (ADD) for operational and development for the 2026 budget year had reached 314 villages with a total of IDR 6.62 billion. Meanwhile, regional tax and levy revenue sharing funds have been disbursed to 314 villages amounting to IDR 15.83 billion.
The meeting also included the handover of death benefits to the heirs of village officials through cooperation with BPJS Ketenagakerjaan (Employment Social Security). In addition, Mulya Jaya Village, Mesuji Raya District, received a motorcycle from Bank Sumsel Babel, Kayuagung Branch, as an appreciation for the village's role in developing community economic infrastructure and businesses.
The OKI Regency Government hopes that strengthening the role of villages and accountable financial governance can increase preparedness in facing forest and land fires while protecting the community and the environment.
