VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

An officer operates an excavator to dredge organic and inorganic waste from Pluit Reservoir, North Jakarta on Friday (October 29, 2021). (ANTARA PHOTO/M Risyal Hidayat/hp/KT) - 

The Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) and the Indonesian Hydraulic Engineers Association (HATHI) have prepared several measures for tackling La Nina storms that can cause flooding in Indonesia, an official has informed.

"As per BMKG predictions, the rain pattern from late 2021 to early 2022 will be influenced by La Nina," PUPR Ministry secretary general Zainal Fattah said in his welcoming speech at the Annual Scientific Meeting (PIT) of HATHI at the Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS) Surabaya on Saturday.

According to him, Indonesia is one of the countries that possesses considerable water resources. Those huge resources must be sustained with good management, he said.

"However, our water resources actually hold the potential to cause damage, too. Natural disasters are showing an increasing trend," he explained.

Based on data from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BMKG), Indonesia recorded 750 floods in 2019, one thousand in 2020, and the number has increased this year, he noted.

He said his office has also taken note of studies showing the growing tendency of hydro-meteorological disasters.

"Hydro-meteorological disasters are one of the impacts of global climate change. In the tropical regions where we live, climate change impacts rain intensity," Fattah expounded.

As BMKG has predicted that there will be a La Nina storm, he said his office has taken several anticipatory steps, including activating the disaster mitigation task force to monitor all existing infrastructure in Indonesia and inspect the flood volume.

"We are also carrying out disaster alert SOPs (standard operating procedures) at 250 dams with a reservoir volume of 4.7 cu m," he highlighted.

Meanwhile, HATHI chairman Ir. Jarot Widyoko said the La Nina storm will pass the Indonesian region and rain intensity is predicted to rise by 70 percent.

"For that, we expect ourselves, institutions, and agencies to empty or minimize the (flood) reservoirs," he said.

However, the minimum need for hydroelectric power plants (PLTA) and raw water needs must be included in the consideration, he added.

"Reservoirs or dams can maximally receive water and reduce water discharge caused by heavy rain intensity," he said//ANT

A screenshot of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mahendra Siregar, during the 2nd Pacific Exposition 2021, accessed from Jakarta on Saturday (October 30, 2021). (ANTARA PHOTOS/Aria Cindyara/my) - 

The promotion of trade and investment is an important part of efforts to accelerate economic recovery, thus countries in the Pacific region need to work together more closely.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mahendra Siregar made the statement at the closing press conference of the 2021 Pacific Exposition, which was accessed from Jakarta on Saturday.

"With the pace of globalization, we must ensure that our position in the global supply chain is appropriate to achieve economic benefits," he said.

The four-day Pacific Exposition 2021 was held to promote trade cooperation between countries in the Pacific region. It featured several business matching and discussion forums.

The event generated a number of potential business transactions, racking up to US$104 million (approximately Rp 1.48 trillion) through business-oriented activities, he noted.

Siregar said that aside from economic recovery, the countries' involvement in the joint economy also serves as a basis for climate change, environmental sustainability, and disaster mitigation.

He also stressed the importance of sustainable development supported by technology.

“Technology has an important part in supporting the development of a blue and green economy so that it can be done by each island nation in the Pacific. This can be achieved by strengthening collaboration in technical cooperation and capacity building,” he said.

He further said he believed that all stakeholders must use the established platform to strengthen engagement with all those in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.

"For Indonesia itself, we are committed to bringing the situation in the Pacific to the world's attention, including through our Presidency of the G20 in 2022, the chairmanship of ASEAN in 2023, and our role in various regional and international forums," the deputy minister added//ANT

Researchers say La Nina could trigger floods, heat waves, and typhoons around the world. (REUTERS/Ag Alagoas/Thiago/rst) - 

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) urged the public to be aware of the impacts of La Nina that could likely occur during the period from October 2021 to February 2022 in Indonesia.

"We are now not only fighting the pandemic but also other disasters, specifically the hydrometeorological disaster," Head of BNPB, Liutenant General Ganip Warsito, noted in a written statement received here, Saturday.

Warsito held a La Nina Anticipation National Coordination Meeting online with related parties to prepare anticipatory steps.

Indonesia was largely hit by hydrometeorological disasters -- floods, cyclones, and landslides -- in the last five years, according to the BNPB.

The anticipatory efforts were made by checking and ensuring the readiness of personnel, tools, facilities, and other supporting infrastructure. This can be achieved by holding preparatory meetings by all components in the provinces and districts and cities.

Furthermore, at the regional level, the local government were urged to prepare a contingency plan for its regions. The BNPB has also instructed the Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPD) to prepare a strategic plan for dealing with hydrometeorological disasters.

"The government can also prepare an emergency alert status in its territory if needed," Warsito noted.

Efforts to mitigate hydrometeorological disasters in the short term can be made by planting vegetation, cleaning waterways, repairing river embankment, and optimizing drainage strengthening, Warsito noted.

In addition, the BNPB has urged local governments, especially BPBDs, to always educate the public regarding preparations for hydrometeorological disasters.

The public should learn about the dangers of prolonged spells of rains in the slope area along the river. If it rains for over an hour, with visibility less than 30 meters, then the community must be evacuated temporarily.

For long-term mitigation, Warsito emphasized that spatial planning must conducted accordingly and take into account the disaster aspects.

"In the case of landslides, people must avoid using critical land as a housing complex," he added//ANT

Several murals are painted during the competition of the 70th Anniversary of Police Public Relations held by the NTT Police Public Relations in Kupang City, East Nusa Tenggara, Saturday, (October 30, 2021). (ANTARA/Kornelis Kaha/KT) - 

A total of 22 mural artists participated in the mural competition at the 70th Anniversary of Police Public Relations held by the East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Police Public Relations in Kupang City.

"In NTT, 22 artists participated. One of them represented NTT at the Police Headquarters in Jakarta," NTT Police Chief Inspector General Lotharia Latif noted here on Saturday.

The statement was delivered in connection with the implementation of "Bhayangkara Mural Festival 2021."

Latif stated that the implementation of the mural competition was a great event wherein mural artists can showcase their creative ideas through their artwork for public viewing.

"Earlier, the National Police chief had noted that any idea can be turned into art, and even criticism could be depicted in a mural," he stated.

Latif believes that mural paintings can beautify slum areas. The existence of mural artists and their arts can certainly offer educational value for the community visiting the location of the mural art.

Furthermore, youngest among the mural artists was one still studying in junior high school.

"Since an early age, he has started to channel his ideas and creativity into this activity," Latif remarked.

As Antara reported, the implementation of this year's Mural Festival Competition by the National Police Public Relations became an attraction for people, who visited the site.

For implementation of the competition, the NTT Police collaborated with the Lippo Plaza shopping center to provide empty walls to be painted on.

Also, Latif has affirmed that his team is not anti-criticism, as criticism is a tool for self-improvement.

Not only in NTT, but the competition was also held across the country by the National Police.

Some 803 artists across Indonesia participated in the Bhayangkara Mural Festival 2021, National Police Public Relations Head Inspector General Argo Yuwono stated.

Yuwono said the mural artists' mindset revolution and activities have showcased the point of view outside his circles//ANT