Made Arya Kencana

Sumatra Post-Quake Reconstruction to Begin Within Months

Denpasar. The government will start rebuilding efforts to repair the homes of West Sumatra’s earthquake survivors in the next few months, a minister promised on Wednesday.

Public Housing Minister M Yusuf Asy’ari, who made the announcement in Bali, said the government was still collecting information, including the number of homes affected by the quake and what kind of damage sustained by the dwellings.

Speaking after the opening of a meeting on People Housing Credit Standardization for Regional Development Banks in Indonesia in nearby Sanur, Yusuf said that data collection was currently being conducted by the regional government and the National Disaster Management Board (BPBN).

Once completed, Yusuf said that he would immediately propose a budget for rehabilitation efforts to the finance minister and the House of Representatives.

The amount of aid for each home would depend on the level of damage suffered, adjusted to the local conditions.

“About the amount, of course it would be different from that of the quake victims in West Java or in Yogyakarta,” he said.

West Java was hit by a strong quake last month, while Yogyakarta suffered extensive damage following a temblor in 2006.

The rehabilitation process will also be different from other areas. He said that while the victims of the 2004 tsunami in Aceh were given quake-resistant houses by the government, the construction of such homes in West Sumatra would involve the participation of local residents, so that they would have a better understanding about how these kinds of dwelling are built.

Yusuf also promised more access to housing credit, or KPR, for quake victims in West Sumatra.

“We have coordinated this with the related party, particularly the [bank that provides funding for KPR],” Yusuf said.

Winny Erwindia, chairman of the Regional Development Bank Association (Asbanda), said that it had already instructed BPD Nagari in West Sumatra to widen access to housing credit by cutting rates and extending loan repayment periods.

“This facility is meant to encourage [survivors] after the quake so that they won’t be depressed,” Winny said.

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