Slow Data Collection by Local Governments Hinders Permanent Housing Development Post-Sumatra Disaster
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri), Tito Karnavian, has highlighted the slowness of local governments (pemda) in providing data on disaster victims in Sumatra.
According to the Head of the Task Force (Satgas) for Accelerating Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (PRR) Post-Sumatra Disaster, this issue has become one of the obstacles in building permanent housing (huntap) for disaster-affected residents in Sumatra.
“I don’t understand why some Regents and Regional Heads are so slow. Even though they are the ones shouting to build the huntap quickly. Where is the data? That’s the problem,” said Tito when met at his residence in the Senayan area, Jakarta, on Monday (23/3/2026).
The government has also prepared various aid schemes related to housing lost or damaged by residents.
“The Satgas is ready to build, but the problem is the slowness of data from pemda to ask the community whose houses are severely damaged or lost that need to be rebuilt,” he said.
He urged local governments to immediately visit residents to inquire about the condition of their houses among those affected by floods and landslides.
“Our main basis is data from Pemda. Pemda must come, especially Regents and district/city Pemda, they must visit those whose houses are severely damaged, lost, or uninhabitable anymore,” Tito emphasised.
The government has prepared several schemes that residents can choose from regarding permanent housing for affected residents.
First, residents can receive direct financial assistance to rebuild their houses.
Second, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) will build permanent housing in the area where residents lived.
Third, residents can choose to be relocated to land prepared by the local government. Subsequently, permanent housing buildings will be constructed by the Minister of Housing and Settlement Areas (PKP), Maruarar Sirait.
“As of today, the data from pemda-pemda has not been completed. The speed of building Huntap greatly depends on the data collection from Pemda itself. Because, sorry, this is a large scale involving 52 districts/cities,” said Tito.