BMKG and Basarnas Face Rp10.8 Trillion Budget Deficit Next Year

A member of the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission V, Edi Purwanto, revealed that the total backlog from seven ministries and agencies partnering with the commission will reach Rp252 trillion next year. From this total, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) is facing a budget shortfall of Rp2.48 trillion, while the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) is experiencing a shortfall of Rp2.6 trillion.

“We will sort out which items we can postpone. We will prioritise the essential ones. We will examine the backlog because this is important. Basarnas and BMKG are matters that truly concern public safety. Therefore, disaster mitigation and the readiness of emergency response teams in the field are crucial,” Edi Purwanto stated after a Hearing Meeting at the Nusantara Building, Senayan, Jakarta.

Edi also highlighted Indonesia’s geographical condition, which is highly prone to disasters, as the main basis for his argument. According to him, public safety is the highest law. He recalled the recent series of disasters, such as earthquakes in Aceh, North Sumatra, West Sumatra, West Java, and Gorontalo. Furthermore, potential volcanic threats, such as Mount Kerinci in Jambi, demand the state’s maximum presence.

“Today we are facing situations where, geographically, Indonesia is indeed disaster-prone. Like recently in Aceh, North Sumatra, West Sumatra, and several other provinces. West Java also experienced several earthquakes. There was also a small one in Gorontalo recently. Including in Jambi, there is Mount Kerinci, an active volcano and the highest in Southeast Asia. I think we need to analyse this more comprehensively so that the state’s sense of responsibility regarding disasters is also prioritised,” Edi concluded.