BALINEWSID.COM, JEMBRANA — The Bali Democratic Party is urging the provincial government to ensure that waste is managed at its source and fully processed at the village level, calling for waste-processing facilities and equipment to be made available across Bali’s 716 villages.

The call was made during a community clean-up activity in Jembrana involving around 250 Democratic Party cadres from party branches across the regency. The activity also included the planting of 10 trees, comprising five ylang-ylang trees and five champaca trees.

The party said waste management should no longer be concentrated in urban areas, particularly Denpasar, where accumulated waste could affect both the environment and Bali’s image as a world-class tourist destination.

“Our commitment going forward is that if we develop our villages, every village should have a waste-processing facility. That way, waste does not have to be transported from one village to another,” the party representative said.

According to the representative, waste should be resolved at the village level. However, villages need adequate equipment and government support to make this possible.

“We hope the government will give greater attention to providing waste-processing machines in every village. With 716 villages, if this is prepared properly, I believe the funding is available,” the representative said.

The initiative is also expected to generate economic opportunities for rural communities. By processing waste locally, villages could reduce the amount of waste sent to urban areas while creating new economic activities based on waste management.

The Democratic Party also emphasized the importance of strengthening environmental awareness alongside Bali’s traditional values, including Tat Twam Asi and Ahimsa.

Tat Twam Asi teaches the principle of recognizing oneself in others, while Ahimsa emphasizes avoiding violence and harm toward other living beings.

The representative said Bali’s religious practices should be accompanied by stronger social solidarity and respect for fellow residents.

“Being diligent in religious activities is not enough if we continue to have conflicts with our neighbors. These values must also be practiced in our daily lives,” he said.

The party said the principles were important in preserving Bali’s reputation for hospitality, politeness and friendliness toward visitors from around the world.

“Anyone from around the world who comes here should be respected. That is part of the hospitality for which Balinese people are known. We should be even more united and supportive of our fellow Indonesians and fellow Balinese,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party expressed support for infrastructure development in Bali, including the central government’s attention to toll-road construction. The infrastructure projects are expected to improve connectivity and increase efficiency for communities and economic activities across the island.

The Jembrana clean-up activity was attended by Democratic Party officials and legislators, including I Wayan Wardana, Deputy Speaker of the Jembrana Regional House of Representatives; I Made Mudarta, Chairman of the Bali Provincial Democratic Party Executive Board; and several members of the Jembrana Democratic Party faction.

The activity underscored the party’s call for stronger environmental responsibility, village-based waste management and greater social solidarity as Bali continues to develop as a global tourism destination.