Govt prepares Rp 1.4t for post-quake programs

Erwida Maulia , The Jakarta Post , Bogor, West Java | Mon, 09/07/2009 5:32 PM

The government said Monday it would allocate Rp 1.4 trillion (US$140million) for rehabilitation and reconstruction programs after a powerful quake rattled West Java last week.

Coordinating Minister for the People's Welfare Aburizal Bakrie told a press conference in Bogor, West Java, on Monday, that the money would be taken from the 2009 state budget's reserve funds because funds allocated for disaster management had already been used to deal with other catastrophes earlier in the year.

"We will soon verify how many buildings have been destroyed and how much damage has been done. After that we hope we can immediately begin the reconstruction," Aburizal said after a Cabinet meeting with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

"We estimate that the cost will amount to between Rp 1.4 trillion and Rp 1.5 trillion. We hope the reconstruction will be completed by the end of February 2010," he added.

Aburizal said that the 7.3-magnitude quake, centered off the coast of Tasikmalaya, West Java, had affected 14 towns and regencies, killed 73 people and wounded hundreds of others.

He said the government would manage the reconstruction program similar to how it dealt with the aftermath of a major earthquake that hit Yogyakarta in 2006.