Kupastuntas.co, Lampung English - The Regional Disaster Management Agency for Lampung Province has prepared funds of IDR 15 billion to anticipate natural disasters.

Head of the Regional Disaster Management Agency for Lampung Province, Rudy Sjawal Sugiarto explained, currently the paradigm of disaster management in Lampung Province is more about preparedness and community vigilance, which was initially responsive to being proactive.

"Furthermore, currently disaster management efforts are more towards education, educating the public, outreach including an early prevention system. So capacity building and education are needed," he explained when asked for a statement, Monday 6 March 2023.

Rudy revealed that the natural disaster that occurred in Lampung Province was a hydro-meteorological disaster or climate change. So that common natural disasters occur such as floods, landslides, tornadoes to forest and land fires.

"There are seven disaster-prone areas including West Lampung, West Coast, Pesawaran, South Lampung, East Lampung, Tulang Bawang and Bandar Lampung. But our disaster risk index has dropped from the previous 145.42 to 141.47," he said.

He ensured that his party had stocks of staple foods in the form of fast food such as rice, instant noodles to sardines which were used to buffer stocks sent to regencies/cities.

"We send buffer stocks outside of aid when there is an incident, this is only a buffer or buffer. But if for example an area has a disaster, it will be proposed to add staples outside the buffer," he explained.

In addition, the Regional Disaster Management Agency for Lampung Province has also provided 30 personnel who are ready 24 hours in case of a natural disaster and the district/city government requests assistance.

"But we are proposing additional personnel because we anticipate that soon when the wet hydrometeorology begins to subside, it will usually enter the dry season which will impact forest fires, so we need an additional task force," he said.

The Regional Secretary of Lampung Province, Fahrizal Darminto asked the Regional Disaster Management Agency in both the province and district/city to increase their vigilance during the current rainy season.

"We also have the Highways and Construction Services and the Social Services to both collaborate and be on standby when there is a disaster to directly handle the problem according to their respective duties and functions," he said.

Fahrizal said that each work unit has its own budget that can be postponed for the management of natural disasters that occur.

"Besides that, there are unexpected costs that can be used for something urgent, such as natural disasters. Hopefully, these unexpected costs will be enough to handle everything when needed, but what is clear is that districts and cities already have standard unexpected costs and there must be something to anticipate," he said. (*)

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