Natural Disasters Arrive Unannounced, Electronic Certificates Become the Solution

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Natural disasters that arrive unpredicted often leave not only buildings and facilities damaged but also important documents such as land certificates. In light of these risks, electronic certificates are now considered a safer option to safeguard asset legality. The experience was felt by Helmi Ismail, Nazir Tanah Wakaf of the Educational Foundation in Bundar Village, Karang Baru District, Aceh Tamiang Regency, Aceh Province. The hydrometeorological disaster that struck Aceh in November 2025 washed away the foundation’s land certificates. Realising the importance of the documents, Helmi immediately coordinated with the Land Office (Kantor Pertanahan, Kantah) Aceh Tamiang to apply for replacement certificates that had been lost. Although the process took place at a temporary relief post because the Kantah was also affected by flooding, the replacement certificate was issued in less than a week. The incident marked a turning point for him. He believes that protecting physical documents alone is no longer adequate amid the ongoing threat of disasters. The replacement certificate he received has now been updated to an Electronic Certificate, part of the digitisation programme of the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency (ATR/BPN). For Helmi, digitisation is not just a change of format, but a shift in mindset toward asset security. “We welcome digitisation greatly. It is practical, easy, and the documentation is safer. If a loss occurs, copies can be stored digitally, for example in Google Drive. It can also be checked via an app. So there is no need to worry about physical documents,” he said. A similar experience was shared by Nazarudin, a resident of Langsa City. A flood about one metre high that inundated his house damaged various important documents, including the land certificate for his home. By submitting a replacement certificate in electronic form, the land’s legality can be quickly verified again. “If you look at it, this is more practical. The information is easier to access, and when floods occur, we do not need to worry,” Nazarudin said. In Aceh, a region frequently hit by floods, the switch from analogue to Electronic Certificates is seen as a rational preventive measure. The legality remains guaranteed, while the risk of loss due to disasters can be reduced. The head of Langsa City Land Office, Dedi Rahmat Sukarya, urged residents to promptly migrate land certificates still in physical form. The stories of Helmi Ismail and Nazarudin serve as a reminder that in the face of disasters that can arrive without warning, asset protection is no longer sufficient by simply keeping documents physically. The transformation towards Electronic Certificates becomes part of adapting to the new reality, keeping land rights safe even when disasters strike from time to time.