"The process of preparing the permanent housing cannot be rushed since it concerns the future of the residents. The facility is not just a building, but its legal certainty must be guaranteed," the Chair of the BNPB Steering Committee, Ari Lesmana, remarked on Wednesday.
According to him, legal certainty provided by land certificates is essential to guarantee long-term housing for affected residents and prevent them from continuing to live in uncertainty.
The agency is also coordinating with the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) to ensure the location for temporary housing is at an acceptable level of disaster vulnerability.
In Agam District, West Sumatra, the local government has proposed several plots of land for further processing as candidate locations for temporary housing through inter-ministerial mechanisms.
The BNPB, as the technical coordinator, is taking a bottom-up approach, involving village heads and sub-district heads to ensure the relocation truly meets the community's needs.
The agreement resulted in a total of 518 permanent housing units to be built, with the number referring to the temporary housing units prepared by the BNPB across 16 locations in six sub-districts in Agam District, with Palembayan Sub-district being the most affected area.
"We avoid locations prone to recurring flooding and landslides, or those located on river banks or high-risk hillsides," Lesmana said.
He added that based on PVMBG's direction, the location for permanent housing must be declared safe for at least 80 percent of the annual disaster risk.
Other considerations consisted of social feasibility, including access to roads, health services, education, and livelihoods for residents, to ensure residents can return to normal life after relocation.
"We want to ensure that relocation is not simply about moving residents, but about restoring their lives with dignity," he concluded.
Related news: BNPB to finish temporary homes in Agam before schools reopen
Related news: Indonesia speeds up driftwood removal after Sumatra floods
Related news: Government mobilizes seven water tankers in flood-hit Central Tapanuli
Translator: M. Riezko Bima, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Azis Kurmala
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
