House approves Rp 300 b for W. Sumatera reconstruction fund

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Sun, 11/22/2009 7:26 PM

The House of Representatives has approved the release of a Rp 300 billion (US$ 30 million) relief fund to assist reconstruction and rehabilitation in areas destroyed by a powerful earthquake in West Sumatra in September.

The funds are part of Rp 1. 2 trillion taken from this years budget agreed on by the House and the government.

Bakri Beck, Deputy for Rehabilitation and Reconstruction at the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), said on Sunday the House had agreed to allow the government to allocate the money.

“We can use the money as soon as we sign a memorandum of understanding with the related parties,” Bakri told Antara state news agency.

He added his office would hand over the fund to residents so as they might rebuild or repair houses damaged by the earthquake.

“To smoothen the transfer of the funds, we will ask for residents to form groups consisting of between 20 and 25 people,” he said.

He added his office would transfer the fund to bank accounts each group had opened.

Data from the provincial Natural Disaster Mitigation Board (Satkorlak) has revealed 37,587 houses were destroyed by the quake. (ewd)