On Additional Disaster Mitigation Budget, Purbaya: Wait for BNPB's Calculations!

Jakarta, VIVA – Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa said his office is still awaiting calculations from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) regarding the need for additional budget allocations for disaster mitigation.

“Yes, we will increase it in line with the request, because it is BNPB that does the calculations. We will see what BNPB’s calculations look like — I have not received them yet,” said Purbaya at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta on Monday, 7 September 2026.

Purbaya said his office was still waiting for BNPB’s calculation of budget requirements before determining the size of the additional disaster mitigation budget.

“So we are waiting for BNPB?” a journalist asked.

“Of course. Otherwise, who would I give it to?” Purbaya replied.

Earlier, President Prabowo Subianto stated that the budget allocation for disaster mitigation must be increased significantly as an anticipatory measure against potential disasters in Indonesia.

“We must be ready to face situations like this at any time. It is also a lesson for us, for the government I lead — the budget allocation for disaster mitigation must be increased significantly,” said Prabowo while opening a limited meeting on natural disaster handling in Indonesia via video conference at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Monday, 7 September 2026.

According to the President, Indonesia’s location in the Ring of Fire region carries a high risk of facing various disasters, so the government needs to improve its preparedness before disasters occur.

Prabowo asked Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi to coordinate with Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa and Minister of National Development Planning/Head of Bappenas Rachmat Pambudy to draft disaster mitigation planning based on the principle of providing more resources than the minimum requirement.

“More helicopters is better, more water pumps is better, more fire engines is better. That way we are prepared before anything happens,” he said.

The Head of State also requested that more small excavators be prepared at the village level, particularly in areas that routinely face forest fires.

Prabowo instructed the drafting of a comprehensive and massive disaster mitigation master plan, including the strengthening of supporting facilities for forest and land fire (karhutla) handling.

“So later we will prepare a master plan that is comprehensive and massive,” he said. (Ant)