Jakarta (Antara Bali) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) wants a long-term solution to recurring natural disasters, especially the flash floods in Garut, West Java.
"The President also urged to pay attention and find long-term solutions to the recurring problem of floods such as those which happen in Garut," said the Chief of the Presidential Staff office, Teten Masduki, at the Presidential Palace here on Monday.
Teten said the solution must be comprehensive and should not only restore the watershed area, but also repair the destruction wreaked by nature in the upstream region.
According to data at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, 40 percent of the upstream river areas have been damaged.
"For example, if the gradient of a slope is 45 degrees and it is planted with vegetables, it can cause erosion," he explained.
He added that the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (LHK); the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR); and the Ministry of Agriculture will draw up a joint action plan to restore the damaged areas.
"The plan will be launched one the disaster is handled. The LHK Ministry, the PUPR Ministry and the Ministry of Agriculture will formulate the action plan which will also cover ways to restore areas in the region," he added.
President Jokowi will pay a visit to Garut after the emergency response.
The palace is of the view that the emergency response effort was proceeding well. This effort involved the local government, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), logistics providers, as well as the community.
"Basarnas personnel are still searching for 20 victims. The President has asked Basarnas to do more and work harder. He urged the search efforts to be maximized," he stressed.(WDY)
