MINISTER WANTS REGIONAL DISASTER MITIGATION BOARD FORMED

Jakarta, April 15 (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Agung Laksono has said a Regional Disaster Mitigation Board (BPBD) should soon be formed.

"Form the Regional Disaster Mitigation Board as soon as possible," Agung Laksono said after delivering a lecture on "People's Welfare Development and Reduction of Post-rehabilitation and Reconstruction Disaster Risk" at Syah Kuala University in Banda Aceh on Wednesday.

On the occasion the minister said BPBD was needed to support the work of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) in the regions.

"BPBD would be of great importance at provincial and regional levels," Agung Laksono said, adding that it was intended to mitigate a disaster quickly, and completely in an integrated manner.

Laksono also said that in a bid to improve disaster management alertness, the central government has formed a Disaster Management Quick Reaction Unit (SCR PB).

For the eastern Indonesian region, he said the SCR PB is based at Lulaeman airport in Malang and for western region it is based at Halim Perdanakusma airport in Jakarta.

Soon after a disaster occurs, the unit will be be deployed immediately to the disaster-hit area to save the lives of the victims and their property.