Purbaya: NTT Earthquake Handling Budget Will Be Increased If Insufficient

Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa has assured that the handling of the earthquake in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) is not constrained by budget. He said the government will use available funds first, then add support if needs increase.

“For disasters, it will come from BNPB first, and if it is insufficient, we (Ministry of Finance) will handle reconstruction. So there is no problem. For disasters, there is a special reserve,” Purbaya said during a meeting of the Post-Disaster Management Task Force (Satgas Galapana) of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) on Sunday (16/8/2026).

Purbaya explained that the government has prepared a disaster reserve of around Rp 5 trillion in the 2026 state budget (APBN). These funds are one source of financing for disaster management and can be adjusted if needs in the field increase.

Purbaya also confirmed that the government has standby funds to respond to disaster needs. Budget support will be provided according to developments in conditions and stages of handling. “So indeed, on-call funds for every disaster response are already on standby,” he said.

He said the reconstruction of public facilities that cannot be financed through BNPB needs to be coordinated with relevant ministries/institutions. The government will adjust financing support to recovery needs in the field.

“It will just depend on the needs. But if public facilities cannot be handled through BNPB, coordination with the relevant ministry/institution is still required,” Purbaya said.

Purbaya also expressed his concern for the communities affected by the NTT earthquake. He hoped that no major earthquakes or tsunamis would occur again. “I am deeply concerned and share my condolences for what happened there. My prayer is that no major earthquakes occur again. And most importantly, that there is no major tsunami,” he said.

Purbaya assured that the government will continue to monitor disaster management needs. If the available budget is insufficient, the government will increase it. “We will monitor the situation, and if additional funds are needed, we will add them. So, the people of NTT need not worry; the government has prepared sufficient funds,” he stressed.