President Prabowo Speeds up Post-Disaster Reconstruction: Thousands of Houses Ready to be Built

Minister of Housing and Settlement Areas Maruarar Sirait presents a report on updates related to post-disaster handling at Plenary Cabinet Meeting held at the State Palace, Jakarta, Monday (12/15). (Photo by: Bureau of Press, Media, and Information of Presidential Secretariat)

President Prabowo Subianto led Plenary Cabinet Meeting held at the State Palace, Jakarta, Monday (12/15). At the meeting, Minister of Housing and Settlement Areas Maruar Sirait presented a report on updates concerning post-disaster handling, especially on the ongoing efforts to inventory damaged houses and the preparedness to reconstruct houses for the affected people.

Based on the data as of Sunday, December 14, 2025 at 05.00 p.m. Western Indonesian Time, the Minister of Housing and Settlement Areas stated that the number of disaster-affected houses in Aceh province has reached 100,569, which consist of slightly, moderately, and heavily damaged houses and swept away houses. Meanwhile, there are 29,766 affected houses in North Sumatra province, and 9,150 in West Sumatra province.

“So, Mr. President, the total number of slightly, moderately, heavily damaged, and swept away houses reaches 139,485 based on the data per Sunday, December 14, 2025, at 5 p.m.,” the Minister said.

Despite the current emergency status in the three provinces, the Minister said that his Ministry has done surveys of the locations as a measure to speed up rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in accordance with President Prabowo’s directives. The surveys were carried out together with the Indonesian National Defense Forces, the Indonesian National Police, the National Agency for Disaster Management, and the regional governments.

“We have already conducted surveys in 30 locations, Sir, 30 locations in Aceh province should be reconstructed as soon as possible as you have directed us to do. If we can expedite the process, we can choose which locations to be reconstructed immediately, Sir,” the Minister said.

Besides in Aceh province, on-site surveys are carried out in North Sumatra and West Sumatra provinces. In North Sumatra province, surveys are conducted in Sibolga city, North Tapanuli, Central Tapanuli, and South Tapanuli regencies. Meanwhile, in West Sumatra province, surveys are conducted in Padang city, Tanah Datar regency, Padang Panjang city, Agam regency, and South Pesisir regency.

In his report, the Minister also stated the preparedness to build permanent housing through various schemes, including schemes to build Instant, Simple, and Healthy Houses (Rumah RISHA) and national industry support schemes. In addition, he also reported about the plan of permanent housing reconstruction funded by sources external to the State Budget. So far, 2,600 houses will be ready in this month.

Concluding his report, the Minister requested President Prabowo’s directives on inter-ministerial coordination mechanisms, so that the reconstruction can be started immediately with the certainty concerning land status and the availability of infrastructure support. The coordination will involve some related ministries, such as the Ministry of Law, the Ministry of Transportation, and the National Agency for Disaster Management. (Bureau of Press, Media, and Information of Presidential Secretariat) (AW/TM)