20/03/2023 (Antara News), Pontianak - The Provincial Government of West Kalimantan continues to strengthen collaboration with palm oil plantation companies to build provincial-status roads by signing an agreement to maintain these roads.

"The signing of this agreement actually renewed it after it was realized in 2020," Head of the West Kalimantan Province Plantation and Livestock Service Heronimus Hero noted in Pontianak on Monday.

This time, it reaffirms how collaboration through the role of palm oil companies in building provincial roads in their plantation areas continues to be maximal, he added.

He explained that with a commitment to assisting in the maintenance of roads that are functional or passable, it can facilitate the activities of the community and the company itself.

"Even though it is a provincial-status road, it is the company itself and the community that use the road. Hence, the role of the company is, of course, very much needed, so that activities run smoothly," he remarked.

He noted that 1,500 kilometers of provincial roads had to be worked on and 900 kilometers of them were in plantation areas. Building it requires extensive amount of money and would take a long time if the regional budget was utilized.

"Meanwhile, the community and the plantation itself need to be able to function quickly. Hence, collaboration with the company is the key," he explained.

According to Hero, out of the collaboration target, 18 roads are spread across several regencies that will be worked on by palm oil companies. About dozens of palm oil companies are involved and in accordance with the commitments made.

"Hence, technically, from the existing road sections, companies under the auspices of the provincial and district governments will jointly build the road. There will be a coordinator to work on that. We also urge the local government to monitor implementation in the field, so that the existing commitments are realized properly," he stated.

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