IDNEWSNOW.COM, Jakarta – More than three years after the devastating Lombok earthquake in August 2018, at least 14,000 houses in North Lombok Regency have not been rebuilt yet. The needed funds reached Rp250 billion.
North Lombok Regent Djohan Syamsu said the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has still blocked the aid funds totaling Rp250 billion.
“It’s not clear why. Deputy Regent has managed it in Jakarta five times and it hasn’t been done,” said Djohan at the inauguration event of the Great Mosque Nurul Hikmah in Pemenang, North Lombok, Monday, December 13.
Djohan also complained about the decrease in the Regional Budget or APBD funds by Rp400 billion from Rp1.4 trillion. Additionally, he asked for extended time for the construction of earthquake-resistant houses which will end on December 31, 2021.
The expert staff at the Presidential Staff Office, Ali Mochtar Ngabalin, claimed at the same event that he just heard about the blocked funds. He vowed to follow up on the problem when he returned to Jakarta. “I have asked for the data,” Ali said.
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SUPRIYANTHO KHAFID
