VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Head of National Disaster Mitigation Agency –BNPB, Doni Monardo in a joint press conference with a number of Indonesian Cabinet Ministers at the Presidential Office in Jakarta on Friday afternoon (01/01/2020), explained that his side has proposed to President Joko Widodo to issue Presidential Instruction (Inpres) for each region in a bid to stipulate contingency plans. Doni Monardo further said the Inpres is aimed at reminding all Regional Heads to prepare mitigation steps for all potential disasters that will happen.

“The BNPB also proposes to the President related to the Presidential Instruction on Regional obligations to set up a 'contingency plan' because almost every year, Indonesia experiences routine problems. When dry season comes, we experience forest and land fires, when rainy season comes, we experience flash floods and landslides and the disasters almost certainly caused human victims and property.  The Inpres is expected that all central and regional components, including the Indonesian Military and Police can remind regional heads to take precautionary steps by making mitigation and alertness.  Then if there is dynamics of the loss of public property, it is expected to determine the status of local officials. Because of the status, the central government can provide budget assistance, including the BNPB to provide budget support to regions that have decided an emergency status,” said Doni.

Moreover, Head of BNPB Doni Monardo also hopes that all Regional Heads in Indonesia can improve awareness of disasters by keeping on monitoring weather developments that can be accessed through the Meteorology Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG). He also appealed to the Regional Heads to disseminate information held by the public so that disaster awareness can be improved. (VOI/Ndy/AHM) / TRANS:AF)