PLN, TNI get ready for Sail Komodo in Labuan Bajo

EAST NUSA TENGGARA,   State-owned power company PT PLN provided two megawatts (JVTW) of electricity to the West Manggarai regency capital of Labuan Bajo in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) in a bid to make the 2013 Sail Komodo event a success aPTPLNofficialsaid.

The power is said to be enough to light up the entire Labuan Bajo city.

NTT PLN regional general manager Richard Safkaur told The Ja­karta Post on Friday that power would be readily available around the clock at a number of places accommodating officials from Jakarta and state guests attending the main event of Sail Komodo on Sept. 14.

PT PLN had also placed on standby power equipment at Pede Beach, the venue where the peak of the event will be held, as well as the West Manggarai regent's official residence, Richard said.

"PLN has been on standby for the past two months for the sake of making the 2013 Sail Komodo event a success, starting from Kupang and several regencies, where Sail Komo­do participants will make stopovers.

"PLN has provided lighting equipment, including generators, at all destinations where the participants will stop. The equipment has already arrived in Labuan Bajo to light up the city," said Richard.

He added PLN had provided gen­erators at 20 points across the city and that all the street lamps were functioning.

"This is part of our support for West Manggarai. PLN has provided light in Labuan Bajo as part of our corporate social responsibility," he said.

Labuan Bajo, a port city on the western tip of Flores Island, is the gateway to Komodo Island, where visitors can see the Komodo dragon as well as underwater attractions in Komodo National Park.

Around 106 yachts from 26 countries are participatingin Sail Komo­do 2013. The peak of the event is expected to be attended by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Manggarai Military District Command chief Lt. Col. Jacky Ariestanto told the Post that the Indonesian Military (TNI) would mobilize 2,000 personnel from the navy, air force and army to secure the event.

Ariestanto said TNI troops had been prepared to secure the event as well as several places and islands in West Manggarai regency.

"The number of TNI personnel does not include police personnel. Together, we will make the Sail Ko­modo event a success," he added.(Markus Makur), Sumber Koran: THE JAKARTA POST(09 September 2013/Senin, Hal. 08)