TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko `Jokowi` Widodo said more than 5,000 families had received the aid assistance for house reconstruction following earthquakes in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB).
“NTB Governor and Deputy Governor report that the aid has been distributed to some 5,000 families, and the number will later increase,” Jokowi told reporters in Lombok International Airport, NTB, Thursday, October 18.
Jokowi mentioned his visit to Lombok aimed at monitoring the aid distribution. “Now I want to see whether the distribution run smoothly or not after I cut the procedure from 17 to one,” he noted.
Read: Jokowi Admits Disaster Mitigation in Palu Not Yet Optimal
The Public Works and Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono reported the rehabilitation and reconstruction program had been commenced as planned, Jokowi added. “The public facilities recovery are on progress, and many have been completed."
Meanwhile, the project of quake-proof house dubbed Risha (Healthy Modest Instantaneous House) hindered due to lack of construction materials.
“This is an issue in the field, I will keep monitoring it, I have ordered for more designs of RISHA,” Jokowi said, adding that the project was expected to complete in six months and if necessary, Indonesian Armed Force (TNI) and National Police would be asked to help to prepare components for project.
During his visit to Lombok, NTB, President Jokowi also reviewed the scholarship distribution for students who became victims of the disaster. “The target of beneficiaries reaches more than 5,000 students. Some 4,5000 have received the scholarship. I will monitor it later this afternoon,” said Jokowi today, Oct 18.
ANTARA