Reasons for Local Governments in North Maluku Struggling to Handle Disasters
Several local governments in North Maluku are experiencing difficulties in managing disasters following a magnitude 7.6 earthquake that shook Ternate, North Maluku, on Thursday, 2 April 2026. The cause is the limited budget for disaster mitigation due to the policy of cutting transfers to regions through Presidential Instruction No. 1 of 2025.
From the information gathered, several local governments such as the City of Ternate, the City of Tidore, and West Halmahera Regency have not mobilised much aid for affected residents. The Ternate City Government, for example, has only budgeted Rp 7 billion to be used for disaster response costs for earthquakes, volcanoes, and floods over a year.
Normally, in a year, the disaster budget allocated by the Ternate City Government through the unexpected expenditure budget (BTT) position reaches Rp 20 billion.
The Tidore Islands City Government is even smaller. The 2026 disaster budget allocation is only Rp 1.5 billion. From that amount, Rp 300 million is used for operational funds and the rest for mobilising aid to affected residents.
That budget can even only be used for one disaster response.
Ternate City Secretary Rizal Marsaoly said the low disaster fund allocation in Ternate City is due to the local government adjusting to fiscal limitations. They are currently focusing on efficiency in non-essential spending such as official travel and meetings, as well as reprioritising programmes towards vital sectors like education and health.
Nevertheless, the Ternate City Government continues to pay attention to disaster fund allocation because the North Maluku region is categorised as a disaster-prone area. The Ternate City Government is still reviewing and ensuring that aid is distributed to affected residents, including emergency handling for damaged houses.
“Therefore, we will continue to allocate funds for disaster response every year even if small. Especially since Ternate City experiences disasters every year, from earthquakes, volcanoes, and landslides,” said Rizal when contacted on Saturday, 11 April 2026.
The Head of the Tidore Islands City BPBD Executive, Muhammad Abubakar, said that the 2026 disaster budget in Tidore City has decreased by more than 70 percent due to adjustments to the regional fiscal condition.
The limited budget condition has forced the Tidore Islands City Government to cut disaster response fund allocations. The Tidore City Government is currently reorganising spending priorities by cutting budgets for official travel or ceremonies to thicken the BTT buffer.
“We have already taken this step. Although honestly, this year’s disaster budget allocation in Tidore is still relatively small. We hope that in the future the regional financial condition can improve again,” said Abubakar.
Previously, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.6 shook Ternate and Tidore. The epicentre, located at coordinates 1.25 North Latitude – 126.27 East Longitude with a depth of 62 kilometres, caused panic among residents.
The earthquake was reported to be felt as far as Ternate City, Tidore Islands City, Sofifi City in North Maluku, and Bitung, Manado, and Minahasa in North Sulawesi.