Home Affairs Minister Instructs Regional Heads to Open Weather Monitoring Posts, Prepare Contingency Plans
Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian delivers press statement to the reporters after a closed-door meeting, at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, Friday (3/1). (Photo by: JAY/PR)
In an effort to anticipate extreme weather which is forecasted by the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) to continue until February, Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian instructed all regional heads to open weather monitoring posts.
“The monitoring posts of the BMKG can be easily updated,” Tito told reporters after attending a closed-door meeting, at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, Friday (3/1).
The Minister also asked all regional heads to prepare contingency plans for possible future disaster, for example floods. By doing so, the Government may have a systematic plan for preventive action and disaster management response during flood, including evacuation and post disaster management.
On the occasion, Tito stressed on the importance of setting emergency response status to areas severely affected by the flood since it has to do with fund for disaster management activities.
“The Central Government will provide help once the emergency response status is set. In addition, regional governments may use the Unexpected Expenditure allocated by each regional government or the Unused Funds (silpa),” he said.
Several regions including West Java and the Special Capital Region of Jakarta, he added, have significant amount of Unused Funds. On the other hand, West Java and Banten have allocated limited amount of Unexpected Expenditure.
Therefore, Tito called on the Central Government to help the affected regions and suggested West Java and Special Capital Region of Jakarta Provinces to help by using their Unused Funds.
“The Unused Funds can be used in emergency, and can be disbursed immediately to help those affected by the floods,” the Minister firmly said. (FID/JAY/ES)
Translated by : Rany Anjany
Reviewed by : Yuyu Mulyani
