New disaster body formed

JAKARTA (Jakarta Post) : President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has approved a regulation to establish a new disaster mitigation board.

The presidential regulation was signed Jan. 26, 2008, a press statement from the National Coordinating Board for Disaster Mitigation (Bakornas PB) said Friday.

Under the regulation, the new Disaster Mitigation National Board (BNPB) will be headed by a chairperson with tasks and functions to be coordinated by the chief welfare minister.

The BNPB will include public figures, experts and other professionals as members.

The regulation also ordered the establishment of local disaster mitigation offices across the country.

The statement said the Bakornas PB would still play its disaster management role until after the new board was operational.