Prabowo Pushes for Major Boost in Indonesia's Disaster Preparedness Funding

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has called for a significant increase in the national disaster mitigation budget, framing enhanced emergency preparedness as a critical investment rather than an optional expense. Speaking during a limited meeting on natural disaster management held via video conference from Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, Prabowo emphasized that recent disaster events have underscored the nation's vulnerability.

"We must be prepared to face situations like this at any time. It is also a lesson for us—for the government I lead—that we must significantly increase the budget allocation for disaster mitigation," Prabowo stated, according to the State News Agency ANTARA.

Indonesia's Geographic Vulnerability Demands Proactive Investment

The President's directive reflects Indonesia's precarious geographic position within the Pacific Ring of Fire, a seismic zone responsible for approximately 90 percent of the world's earthquakes and 75 percent of active volcanoes. For Bali and wider Indonesia, this reality means constant exposure to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, and related disasters.

Rather than adopting a reactive approach to catastrophes, Prabowo has instructed State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi to coordinate with Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa and Rachmat Pambudy, head of Bappenas (the Ministry of National Development Planning), to develop a comprehensive disaster mitigation strategy. The plan emphasizes resource allocation that exceeds minimum baseline requirements.

Concrete Steps: Equipment and Rural Infrastructure

The President outlined specific investments needed to strengthen disaster response capacity across the archipelago. His recommendations include acquiring additional helicopters for emergency evacuation and rescue operations, expanding water pump inventory for flood management, and increasing firefighting equipment stockpiles.

Notably, Prabowo has also requested deployment of smaller excavation equipment at the village level, particularly in regions prone to forest and land fires—a critical concern given Indonesia's recurring wildfire crises that impact air quality across Southeast Asia and devastate ecosystems.

• Enhanced helicopter fleet for rescue and evacuation
• Increased water pump availability for flood response
• Expanded firefighting equipment distribution
• Small-scale excavators positioned in disaster-prone villages
• Comprehensive forest and land fire management infrastructure

A Master Plan for Long-Term Resilience

Rather than issuing piecemeal directives, Prabowo has instructed the development of a large-scale, comprehensive disaster mitigation master plan. This approach signals a shift toward strategic, coordinated preparedness rather than improvised crisis management.

The timing of these announcements comes as Indonesia faces ongoing seismic activity. Recent volcanic events, including the Anak Krakatau eruption on September 8, 2026, have disrupted aviation operations and highlighted the nation's vulnerability to multiple simultaneous disasters.

For Bali specifically, which experienced increased earthquake frequency in recent years and maintains significant tourism infrastructure vulnerable to natural disasters, improved national preparedness standards could have substantial implications for disaster response protocols and visitor safety assurance.

Source: State News Agency ANTARA via Bali Discovery