VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo ordered Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung to draft a presidential instruction that obliges regional administrations to set a guideline for handling disaster emergency or contingency plan, said National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) head Doni Monardo.

According to Doni, the President made the request during a meeting on the flood control on Friday, January 3, 2020.

"The Presidential Instruction [Inpres] will require governors, regents, mayors to arrange contingency plan," said Doni at the Presidential Office on Friday, January 3, 2020.

Doni explained that natural disasters in the country were relatively the same. During the dry season, several regions will suffer drought or forest fires, while other regions in the rainy season will experience floods or landslides.

Further, Donni explained that through the Inpres, regional heads can prepare strategies based on the potential disaster in their respective areas. So they will know what steps to take when disaster strikes.

"With the Inpres, all stakeholders can also remind regional administration to take preparation and mitigation steps," Doni remarked. (TEMPO.CO)