PRR Task Force Urges Aceh to Synchronise Programmes with Central Government for Recovery

The local government in Aceh has been urged to synchronise its physical and non-physical recovery programmes to fill development sectors not covered by central ministries or agencies. The recommendation was made by Muhammad Tito Karnavian, Chairman of the Task Force for the Acceleration of Post-Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (Satgas PRR) for Sumatra, during a Coordination and Evaluation Meeting on Development Achievements and Acceleration of Post-Hydrometeorological Disaster Recovery at the Aceh Governor’s Office on Tuesday. The primary reference for the permanent recovery phase is the Sumatra Post-Disaster Master Plan (Renduk) for the 2026-2028 period. The master plan encompasses 11,520 activities with a total budget of Rp100.166 trillion, involving 23 ministries and agencies. Tito cited a concrete example from the Ministry of Public Works, which has prepared 1,141 specific activities for physical infrastructure repairs. Regional governments are expected to take on other infrastructure projects that fall outside the scope of that programme. “This is what we actually need to synchronise. We want to request details on these 1,141 activities so that colleagues in regencies, cities, and provinces understand what is being done. Thus, the remaining projects become the responsibility of the regions,” he stated in a written release on Tuesday. Without a clear work map, the risk of overlap between central and regional programmes becomes a real obstacle in the field. Tito stressed that his party would immediately request all ministries and agencies to detail their work programmes along with specific points of location. Data transparency is considered crucial so that regions can map out areas that have not yet been handled and fill the remaining recovery gaps, ensuring every party knows exactly which areas and sectors are their responsibility. From a fiscal perspective, Tito assessed that the affected regional governments in Aceh have sufficient capacity to act. The key lies in the ability of regions to maximise the additional Regional Transfer (TKD) funds amounting to Rp10.6 trillion that have been channelled to affected areas. In addition to TKD, inter-regional grant schemes can also be optimised. Regions receiving larger TKD allocations can assist affected regions with more limited budgets. Although the budget is available, Tito highlighted the slow submission of recovery funds from ministries and agencies to the Ministry of Finance. He does not want the permanent recovery process on the ground to be hampered by administrative and internal bureaucratic matters. “I said the money has been prepared by the Minister of Finance, the president has issued a directive with the official letter available, and the budget allocation is there. The budget allocation is there, the public is waiting, so why hasn’t it been submitted? Eventually, everyone submits, but some are still in process within the ministries’ or agencies’ own internal systems,” he asserted. Tito’s working visit to Aceh is part of a crucial stage of permanent rehabilitation and reconstruction. This visit also serves as a follow-up to the Sumatra Post-Disaster Master Plan, which was compiled across sectors together with local governments for a three-year recovery period from 2026 to 2028. The strategic agenda was attended by the Director General of Regional Administration Development at the Ministry of Home Affairs, Safrizal ZA; the Head of the PRR Task Force Post, Police Inspector General Wahyu Bintono; as well as representatives from ministries and agencies within the PRR Task Force. Also present were Aceh Governor Muzakir Manaf, Vice Governor Fadhlullah, and regents and mayors from across Aceh Province.