Tito: Post-Disaster Recovery in Sumatra Shows Progress
Chairman of the Task Force for the Acceleration of Post-Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction in Sumatra, Tito Karnavian, stated that recovery progress in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra continues to show positive development. This is evident from various indicators, ranging from government services, health, and education to strategic infrastructure and the construction of temporary shelters.
Currently, disaster management in Sumatra has entered the rehabilitation and reconstruction phase. The Minister of Home Affairs said the next priority is to make permanent various infrastructure such as roads and bridges, both national and regional, including those that have not yet been addressed.
‘That must be done, either by the regional government or taken over by the central government,’ Tito said after a ministerial-level meeting of the Steering Committee for the Post-Disaster PRR Task Force in Sumatra at the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture office in Jakarta on Thursday (18/6).
In a written statement, Tito said President Prabowo Subianto has approved a budget requirement for rehabilitation and reconstruction until 2028 amounting to Rp100.1 trillion. The budget covers the needs of 33 ministries and agencies, comprising 23 core ministries and agencies and 10 supporting ones.
He urged the relevant ministries and agencies to accelerate the submission and disbursement process so that the budget can be utilised immediately. Likewise, ministries and agencies that have already received the budget are encouraged to realise it promptly.
‘Once it is transferred, our speed will be very fast,’ he explained.
Tito called on regional governments to use the additional Transfer to Regions funds to address urgent needs in their respective areas. He mentioned that the central government has sent an additional Rp10.6 trillion in TKD to all regional governments in the three affected provinces.
Tito also appreciated several regional governments that received the additional TKD but provided grants to affected areas still requiring support. This is because the additional funds were received by all regions, both those directly affected by the disaster and those not.
‘So once again, with the existing TKD budget, I encourage regions to move using their respective TKD,’ Tito said.
Tito also expressed hope that all parties would support the acceleration of post-disaster rehabilitation and reconstruction in Sumatra.
The former National Police chief thanked various parties who have provided support. ‘We hope for support from all parties, including the gentlemen, ladies, and community leaders in the three regions, so we can work together in mutual cooperation,’ Tito said.