Prabowo: Disaster mitigation budget allocation must be significantly increased
Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Prabowo Subianto has stated that the budget allocation for disaster mitigation must be significantly increased 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, that the budget allocation for disaster mitigation must be significantly increased,” said Prabowo whilst opening a limited meeting on natural disaster management in Indonesia via video conference at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Monday.
According to the President, Indonesia’s location within the Ring of Fire region carries a high risk of facing various disasters, so the government needs to improve its 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 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 events occur,” he said.
The Head of State also requested that more small-sized excavators be made available at village level, particularly in areas that routinely face forest fires.
Prabowo instructed the drafting 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 to utilise an aircraft carrier from Italy that will join the Indonesian Navy fleet, to 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 which materials are most effective to support the technology.
“So we prepare for mitigation, we do not wait for events to happen. Preparations must be made long in advance,” said the President.
It is understood that President Prabowo led a limited meeting to monitor developments in the handling of a number of natural disasters in Indonesia via video conference from Jakarta on Monday.
As monitored online via the Presidential Secretariat’s YouTube channel, President Prabowo said the government is currently facing several disaster conditions, ranging from the earthquake in Flores, the activity of Mount Anak Krakatau, to forest fires and haze.