Prabowo accepts BNPB proposal on BPBD logistics warehouses for disaster preparedness
When the disaster occurred yesterday, this region could not do anything because the BPBD logistics warehouses were indeed empty.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Prabowo Subianto has accepted input from the Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), Suharyanto, urging that every Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) should have logistics warehouses and stockpiles of aid ready for use when disasters strike.
The suggestion was conveyed by Suharyanto during a coordination meeting on handling the impact of the earthquake in Nagekeo Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), chaired by President Prabowo at an evacuation post at the Territorial Development Battalion (Yon TP) 834/Wakanga Mere headquarters in Tonggurambang Village, Mbay, on Wednesday.
Based on monitoring of the Presidential Secretariat’s YouTube channel, Suharyanto said the availability of logistics in the regions became a problem when the earthquake disaster occurred.
“When the disaster occurred yesterday, this region could not do anything because the BPBD logistics warehouses were indeed empty,” said Suharyanto.
He said the President’s community assistance, or the additional Unexpected Expenditure (BTT) of Rp20 billion for each of the eight district governments in NTT, was very helpful in dealing with the impact of the disaster.
However, for future disaster management, Suharyanto suggested that every district/city should have logistics stockpiles that can be used immediately when a disaster occurs.
According to him, the BNPB, as an instrument of the central government, can indeed move to strengthen disaster management. However, the BNPB needs time to bring in and distribute logistics to affected areas.
“The BNPB is the President’s instrument. We do not have a command relationship with the BPBD,” he said.
Suharyanto explained that regional governments should be able to provide basic assistance to the public in the early phase of a disaster, such as food, blankets, tents and mattresses, before assistance from the BNPB arrives.
He proposed that provincial governments should have their own logistics warehouses, as should district/city governments. In this way, initial assistance can be distributed immediately to affected communities.
“When something happens at the outset, they can already provide assistance,” he said.
“As soon as something happens, affected communities can be given assistance first before the BNPB arrives,” he added.
Responding to the input, President Prabowo stated that he would note and consider the proposal nationally.
“Good, I think that is a good suggestion. We will note it later,” said Prabowo.
The Head of State then stated that the central government could help each province to have warehouses and food preparations to face disasters. Similar measures would also be encouraged at the district level.
“I think that is a good suggestion. So let us calculate it nationally, and later we will help each province, so that governors have warehouses and food preparations, as do regents,” said Prabowo.
The President assessed that regional governments should indeed have logistics reserves to face emergency conditions. However, if such measures have not yet been implemented optimally, the central government will take steps to help realise them.
“In fact, it should indeed be that way. Regents and governors should already have reserve granaries. But never mind, if they perhaps have not taken the initiative, we will do it,” said Prabowo.