West Sumatra huntap construction method differs from North Sumatra and Aceh

Director General of Settlements ( Dirjen) at the Ministry of Housing and Settlements (PKP), Fitrah Nur, stated that the post-disaster permanent housing (huntap) construction method in West Sumatra will differ from those in North Sumatra and Aceh. He made the remarks while responding to Kompas.com during an Idul Adha celebration at Rusunawa KS Tubun, Jakarta, on Thursday (28 May 2026). He explained that for West Sumatra, the government plans to use Batang Interlock system produced by Semen Padang. The system was chosen for its cost-effectiveness and suitability for huntap construction in the region. “Our plan for West Sumatra is to use Batang Interlock. It’s produced by Semen Padang locally. It’s cheaper,” Fitrah said. Meanwhile, for huntap construction in other areas like North Sumatra and Aceh, the government is open to using modular systems with specific conditions, particularly regarding earthquake resilience. However, not all manufacturers possess full earthquake-resistant certification. “Those with earthquake-resistant certification that have undergone rigorous testing are few,” Fitrah added. Therefore, the government will impose stringent requirements in huntap construction to ensure buildings are safe for disaster-prone communities. He also highlighted that the Ministry of Housing and Settlements (PKP) is encouraging modular construction producers to enhance earthquake-resistant testing standards. This will involve collaboration with the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), the Settlements Research and Development Centre (Puskim) under the Directorate General of Works, Ministry of Public Works, as well as universities. In addition to preparing construction methods, the government has completed various preparatory stages for huntap development, including detail engineering design (DED), land verification, and coordination with the Geological Agency regarding site suitability. According to Fitrah, huntap construction using national budget will proceeds via open tender once the Ministry of Finance releases disaster management funds.