Prabowo Calls for Disaster Mitigation Budget to Be Increased: We Must Be Prepared for Situations Like This

Jakarta, VIVA – President Prabowo Subianto has stated that the budget allocation for disaster mitigation must be increased significantly as a precautionary 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 management in Indonesia via video conference at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Monday, 7 September 2026.

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

Prabowo asked Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi to coordinate with Minister of Finance Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa and Minister of National Development Planning/Head of Bappenas Rachmat Pambudy to draw up disaster mitigation plans 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 made available at village level, particularly in areas that routinely face forest fires.

Prabowo instructed the preparation of a comprehensive and large-scale disaster mitigation master plan, including the strengthening of supporting facilities for forest and land fire management.

On that occasion, Prabowo also conveyed plans for the use of an aircraft carrier from Italy that will join the ranks of the Indonesian Navy and will later be modified to support helicopter and drone operations.

The vessel, he said, can accommodate up to 10 medium-class helicopters, each capable of carrying around 4-5 tonnes of water to assist aerial firefighting.

The government will also increase the use of aircraft for weather modification operations. Prabowo asked BRIN to study the most effective materials to support this technology.

“So we prepare for mitigation, we don’t wait for events to happen. It must be prepared long in advance,” said Prabowo. (Ant)