Prabowo applies 'better more than less' principle in disaster mitigation

Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Prabowo Subianto has asked the government to apply the principle of “better more than less” when planning the facilities and infrastructure needed to face disasters.

He said the principle was important so that the government would be adequately prepared before a disaster strikes, including in facing forest fires.

“I ask that our thinking in our planning uses the principle of, yes, better more than less,” the President said during a limited meeting on handling a number of disasters in Indonesia, monitored online via a live broadcast from the Presidential Secretariat in Jakarta on Monday.

The President asked Minister of State Secretariat Prasetyo Hadi, Minister of Finance Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, and Minister of National Development Planning/Head of Bappenas Rachmat Pambudy to prepare more optimal planning for disaster management equipment requirements.

Prabowo stressed the need to increase the availability of various equipment such as helicopters, water pumps and firefighting vehicles.

“More helicopters is better, more water pumps is better, more firefighting equipment is better,” he said.

According to the President, the availability of such equipment must be prepared before a disaster occurs so that the government can respond quickly when an emergency arises.

“So, we are ready before the event happens,” he said.

In addition, Prabowo asked the government to prepare more small-sized excavators that can be stationed at village level, particularly in areas that historically experience frequent forest fires.

Furthermore, the President asked for these requirements to be set out in a comprehensive and massive disaster management master plan.

“So later we will prepare a master plan that is comprehensive and massive,” said Prabowo.