Indonesian President Joko Widodo led a Limited Meeting related to the handling of the impact of the earthquake in North Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara. The meeting was held after the President personally visited a number of earthquake relief posts in North Lombok regency, West Nusa Tenggara Province, Monday (Aug 13). The Limited Meeting was attended by a number of parties related to the handling of the impact of the earthquake, including the Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Chief of Staff of Presidency Moeldoko, West Nusa Tenggara Governor Muhamma Zainul Majdi, The Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto, National Police Chief Gen. Tito Karnavian, Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Willem Rampangilei and National SAR Agency Chief Muhammad Syaugi. In his direction, President Joko Widodo asked his staff to really ensure the number of building where the people live in, whether they are severely or moderately damaged. In addition, the President also requested that the government and its ranks be able to immediately submit assistance to repair the residents' homes. This assistance is planned to be provided based on the level of house damages, whether severely, moderately or lightly damaged. With the handover of assistance, the President hopes that the rehabilitation and reconstruction process can be carried out immediately.
"I think starting tomorrow morning we will immediately hand over the aid for a heavily damaged house starting with a badly damaged one and I hope tomorrow at least a thousand can be handed over and then immediately followed by the hand over of the aid for home rehabilitation. And it starts to be done per zone so that the military and police as well as from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) accompanied by the Public Works can clean for example the sub-district first. It can be organized properly so that the money circulation and the economic activities can really start again, especially in North Lombok and in West Lombok," said President Joko Widodo.
Regarding the economic development of the community after the earthquake, the President also requested that the process of reconstruction of public facilities, especially markets, also be of concern to the government. The President asked the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing to invite the public to utilize the market facilities after the rehabilitation and reconstruction. In accordance with the results of the Limited Cabinet Meeting some time ago in Jakarta, the president asked the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing to be able to involve the community in the process of rebuilding the residents' homes damaged by the earthquake. The president wanted the people’s housing to be built with earthquake resistant construction. (VOI/Ndy/AHM)