Tito Urges Regions to Realise Additional TKD for Post-Disaster Sumatra
The Ministry of Home Affairs (Mendagri) Muhammad Tito Karnavian has urged the affected regional governments (Pemda) in Sumatra to promptly realise additional Transfer to Regions (TKD) for post-disaster management. The head of the Post-Disaster Sumatra Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Acceleration Task Force (PRR Pascabencana Sumatra) said the government has channelled an extra TKD of Rp10.6 trillion to the affected regions: Aceh, North Sumatra (Sumut), and West Sumatra (Sumbar). He stated that the extra TKD represents a direct instruction from the President to accelerate disaster response and support mitigation in the region. Therefore, Pemda are asked to use the funds with precise targeting and not to divert them for activities unrelated to disaster management.
“Indeed, the President’s intention is clear: this TKD is provided as part of disaster handling,” Tito said as he chaired the PRR Pascabencana Sumatra Coordination Meeting in Jakarta on Thursday, 21 May. He said the use of the additional TKD should be focused on rehabilitation, mitigation, and disaster anticipation activities. The affected regions were urged to use the funds to repair damaged infrastructure, address landslide risks, strengthen river dikes, and accelerate the restoration of public services. Meanwhile, regions not affected were asked to use the funds for preventive measures and to bolster disaster resilience. “Do not use it for purposes that are too far removed, or that have no relation to disasters,” he added.
Tito praised several Pemda for drafting their activity plans and enacting Peraturan Kepala Daerah (Perkada) as the basis for budget use. He noted, however, that some areas have yet to draft a plan or issue Perkada. Regions that have prepared their budget usage plans were urged to immediately execute programs on the ground. Regions that only have a draft plan were asked to promptly issue Perkada so activities can proceed under the rules. “For those who have completed their plans and have already enacted them, please proceed with execution and realisation. We will monitor from the Task Force,” he said. (tim/tim)