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SINGAPORE: Singapore has offered to collaborate with a regency in Jambi province in Indonesia to fight the haze problem.
The Environment and Water Resources Ministry said this followed Indonesia's commitment to reduce the number of hotspots by 50 percent this year and to allocate some S$110 million a year to achieve this.
The haze has been a recurring problem in the region – affecting air quality and the economy of countries for the last 10 years.
Giving an update of a ministerial meeting held last month, Environment and Water Resources Minister Yaacob Ibrahim said that under Indonesia's National Plan of Action (National PoA) to fight the haze problem, the country aims to halve the number of hotspots this year.
It has also budgeted more than S$100 million or over US$65 million a year to implement its programmes.
He said: "Indonesia identified 35 fire-prone areas in 8 provinces including Jambi, Riau, South Sumatra and Central Kalimantan to deal with fires there. Singapore has offered to work with a regency in the Jambi Province to enhance its capacity to prevent and mitigate land and forest fires."
The area identified is the Muaro Jambi Regency, and the National Environment Agency is working with the leaders there to develop a Master Plan to prevent and mitigate fires.
"The Master Plan for Muaro Jambi Regency will be aligned with the Indonesia's National PoA. More importantly, the Jambi Provincial Government will own the Master Plan. If successfully implemented in Jambi, the Master Plan can serve as a model for other fire-prone districts in Indonesia," said Dr Yaacob.
Under the Master Plan, the Environment and Water Resources Minister said the focus would be on fire prevention and fire suppression. Singapore would assist the Jambi government to obtain financial and technical resources, including matching agencies to projects.
Other elements under the Master Plan include legislation and enforcement, early warning and monitoring, as well as regional and international collaboration.
Dr Yaacob added that Malaysia has indicated it would assist the implementation of the PoA by undertaking a number of projects, including working with plantation companies to implement zero burning practices and other preventive measures.
He said: "Malaysia also liked the Jambi-Singapore Collaboration model and wanted to know more about it. Hence I have invited Malaysian officials to join my officers when we develop the Master Plan jointly with Jambi and Indonesia State Ministry of Environment officials."
Dr Yaacob said Indonesia, Brunei and Malaysia have also pledged over S$76,000 or US$50,000 each to the ASEAN Haze Fund.
And he hopes this will spur other ASEAN members, and international organisations, to do the same.
Singapore was the first to pledge that amount at the 1st Ministerial Steering Committee Meeting on Transboundary Haze Pollution last year.
The Ministry said Indonesia would also get international and regional assistance from organisations and NGOs to implement its programmes to fight forest fires.
The Asian Development Bank, for example, has announced it would provide technical expertise and funding for some projects under the Jambi Master Plan.
- CNA/so
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