Gov’t to Relocate Mount Ruang Eruption Evacuees

Press conference following a meeting on Mount Ruang eruption evacuee management at the Presidential Palace Complex in Jakarta (05/03). (Photo by: PR of Cabinet Secretariat /Deva)

The Government is set to register residents affected by the eruption of Mount Ruang and relocate them to a safer location.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo led a limited cabinet meeting on the management of Mount Ruang eruption evacuees in Sitaro regency, North Sulawesi province, which was attended by ministers of the Indonesia Onward Cabinet at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, Friday (05/03).

In a press conference at the Presidential Palace Complex following the meeting, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy pointed out that there are three evacuation shelter locations.

“There are currently three locations. Some evacuees are in Manado, some in Bitung city, and some in Minahasa,” he said, adding that President Jokowi has ordered that the displaced residents be properly taken care of.

“Quick actions must be taken to provide a permanent solution to the eruption of Mount Ruang. The President agreed to relocate all residents in Ruang Island, all 301 families,” he said.

According to Muhadjir, these residents will be relocated to South Bolaang Mongondow regency in North Sulawesi.

Muhadjir further stated that the President has ordered Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono and Minister of the Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya Bakar to expand agricultural and plantation land for the relocated residents.

“As for housing, the President has ordered Minister of Public Works and Public Housing to build a permanent housing complex in South Bolaang Mongondow according to disaster recovery standards and the fund will be sourced from the ready funds of the National Agency for Disaster Management (BNPB),” he said.

Muhadjir also said that the resident relocation is not only about moving human resources but also about creating jobs for their livelihood.

“In line with the Governor’s report, the selected location in Bolaang Mongondow has a similar typology to Mount Ruang environment. It is also a coastal area, but the President has instructed that land for plantation and agriculture be expanded,” he remarked.

In the meantime, Deputy Minister of Finance Suahasil Nazara pointed out that the budget for relocating residents’ settlement will use the ready funds allocated by the State Budget and regional budgets in accordance with the directives of the Head of State.

“The President has ordered that the ready funds of the BNPB be prepared and used. As for the correlation with regional budgets, you [the press] do understand that there are transfers from the Central Government to regional governments, be it the general allocation funds or special allocation funds. Impacted regions may be given some relaxations so that they do not face any obstruction,” he said.

Suahasil also asked the Provincial Government of North Sulawesi and the regency government to discuss the ready funds that will be used to manage Mount Ruang eruption evacuees.  (KS/ST) (DH/LW)