Permanent Housing in Agam Uses Earthquake-Resistant Home Technology and Sepablock
The construction of permanent housing for disaster-affected communities in Agam Regency, West Sumatra, has commenced. The local government is using three construction technologies to build homes that are safe, liveable, and can be expanded according to family needs.
Agam Regency has been allocated 1,817 permanent housing units, the highest number in West Sumatra. The housing is intended for residents affected by the hydrometeorological disaster that struck the region in November 2025.
Of the total allocation, 699 permanent housing units are being centrally built by the Ministry of Housing and Settlement Areas. Meanwhile, 1,118 other units are being built through independent and in-situ permanent housing schemes under the National Disaster Management Agency programme.
Independent permanent housing construction has begun in Palembayan, Tanjung Raya, and Malalak sub-districts before being gradually extended to other areas. This scheme provides communities with the opportunity to rebuild their lives in chosen environments while upholding building safety and feasibility standards.
To support implementation, the Agam Regency Government has designated three construction technologies: Interlock Brick or Sepablock from PT Semen Padang, part of the Semen Indonesia Group; Earthquake-Resistant Homes from Andalas University together with PT Gubah Fiffarian Indotama; and Harmonious, Peaceful, Safe and Prosperous Homes from PT Mara Pratama Indonesia.
As part of preparations and to provide a direct illustration to the community, four sample homes have been built in several locations. One Sepablock home was built in Jorong Kayu Pasak, Nagari Salareh Aia, Palembayan Sub-district; one Rhodas home in Nagari Sungai Batang, Tanjung Raya Sub-district; and two homes using earthquake-resistant construction in Malalak Sub-district.
The type 36 homes are designed to meet feasibility and safety standards and use a growing home concept. With this concept, buildings can be developed gradually according to family needs and capabilities without neglecting the main residential structure.
While inspecting independent permanent housing construction in Palembayan Sub-district, Daily Chair of the National Disaster Management Agency Steering Element Brigadier General (Ret.) Ary Laksmana Widjaja said permanent housing construction is an important part of comprehensive recovery that does not only address the housing needs of affected communities.
“Independent permanent housing construction in Agam Regency combines physical improvement of dwellings with simultaneous psychological and economic recovery to normalise the lives of disaster-affected communities,” Ary said in a written statement on Saturday.
In line with the preparation of safe housing, strengthening community economic capacity is also being carried out so that affected families can enter their new environment with more sustainable livelihoods. At the Linggai temporary shelter in Nagari Duo Koto, Tanjung Raya Sub-district, residents received training in processing Lake Maninjau fish through collaboration between the National Disaster Management Agency, Permodalan Nasional Madani, and the Agam Regency Government.
The training has taken place over four sessions and is directed at improving production skills, product quality, and marketing opportunities. Permodalan Nasional Madani also handed over smoked fish ovens to the Linggai temporary shelter community group. A similar programme is being developed in Salareh Aia through betel nut processing training and production equipment assistance including ovens, betel nut cutting knives, and electric generators.