VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

 President Joko Widodo has stated that it is time to rehabilitate and reconstruct West Nusa Tenggara after the earthquakes that hit the area more than a month ago. At a gathering on West Nusa Tenggara Rebuilding held in Gunung Sari Sub-district, West Lombok District, West Nusa Tenggara Province, on Monday, the president noted that the emergency response stage had passed and it is time for rehabilitation and reconstruction.

"Yesterday, I noticed several buildings being reconstructed under the direction of the Ministry of Public Works," the president remarked, as conveyed by the Presidential Secretariat Deputy for Protocol, Press and Media, Bey Machmudin.

About 2,250 volunteers from various institutions participated in the gathering. On the occasion, Widodo noted that the first step that should be carried out is rebuilding public facilities, such as markets, health centers, schools, and mosques. Previously, the president had directly handed over aid for the reconstruction of 5,293 houses, which includes those heavily damaged, moderately damaged, and slightly damaged.

The Head of State asked the volunteers to help the people in rebuilding their homes. The president pointed out that the houses to be rebuilt should have earthquake-resistant structures.

"We know that West Nusa Tenggara is included in the Ring of Fire. In 1979, a major earthquake occurred here," he explained.

The reconstruction of people`s houses will be directed by the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing and assisted by young engineers and engineering students.  To accelerate the process of rehabilitation and reconstruction, the president revealed that the government has issued the Presidential Instruction No. 5 of 2018. In the instruction, the rehabilitation and reconstruction processes will be directly led by the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing.

"I will continue to monitor and check, so that West Nusa Tenggara will immediately return to normal, and people can continue with their economic and daily activities," he elaborated.

The Head of State appreciated the Indonesian Military (TNI) and Police members, independent volunteers, volunteers from state-owned enterprises, universities, NGOs, and local administrations for their efforts to help people in West Nusa Tenggara.

"Thank you all for working hard with high solidarity to help our brothers in West Nusa Tenggara," he remarked.

In his report, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono noted that based on the Presidential Instruction No. 5 of 2018, the minister has verified 291 buildings of the 972 public facilities which will be reconstructed. The rehabilitation and reconstruction have been carried out for 56 buildings, consisting of 40 mosques, three markets, and eight hospitals and health centers.

To accelerate the rehabilitation and reconstruction of 125 thousand housing units, the minister has verified 32,800 houses, consisting of 11,400 houses with minor damages, 3,600 with moderate damages, and 17,800 with heavy damages. A sample house with earthquake-resistant technology RISHA has been built in 20 points.

In addition to Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, the rally was attended by Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Social Minister Agus Gumiwang, TNI Commander Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto, National Police Chief Gen. Tito Karnavian, Head of the National Disaster Management Agency Willem Rampangilei, and West Nusa Tenggara Governor Muhammad Zainul Majdi. (ant)