Vice Governor Hopes for Pentahelix's Synergy in Disaster Management towards a Disaster-Resilient Global City

Jakarta Vice Governor Ahmad Riza Patria gave directions during the 2022 Regional Coordination Meeting for Disaster Management (Rakorda PB) at the Golden Boutique Hotel, Central Jakarta, on Monday (7/18).

That hard work and dedication will be our responsibility in the future

The meeting, which will be held over the next three days, will present a plenary discussion with the theme 'Collaboration towards Jakarta as a Disaster-Resilient Global City'.

He revealed that it has an important role because disasters can come at any time, thus it takes alertness, anticipation, disaster mitigation, integration, and planning.

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Hence, it was expected to be a means to strengthen collaboration and synergy between institutions or all elements of the disaster management pentahelix in Jakarta.

"Thank you very much, especially Jakarta BPBD, which has worked so hard for humanity, together with various parties, such as volunteers, officials, and the community. That hard work and dedication will be our responsibility in the future to continuously improve the implementation of the best disaster management,' he expressed, as quoted by Jakarta PPID's press release.

With a total population of more than 10 million, Jakarta has a vulnerability to various types of disasters. He also hoped that it could identify various obstacles, challenges, and evaluate the achievements of the Jakarta disaster management programs that are already running. It was also expected to simultaneously formulate future action plans, as well as present the integration of action plans into the strategic plans of regional devices or institutions.

He then encouraged all elements to improve the coordination of disaster management in Jakarta, including the following:

1. Strengthening the integration of medium-term disaster management and elaborating it into strategic plans, especially for BPBDs and related regional apparatus organizations

2. Ensure the implementation of disaster management with adequate budget support, quickly, accurately, and responsibly following applicable regulations

3. Strive to improve the capacity of human resources related to disaster management through the provision of training and education, at various points in the Jakarta City area, especially in disaster-prone areas

4. Implementation of the establishment and development of disaster-resilient villages in various areas of Jakarta, to educate the community to become residents who are ready and have independence in dealing with disasters

5. Improve the quality of data, information, and reporting of disaster events through optimizing the use of information and communication technology tools, as well as utilizing social media channels that are fast and effective for the public

Two things are priorities for the Jakarta government and all parties in disaster management, namely ensuring that there are no casualties with good mitigation through Siaga (Alert), Tanggap (Respond), and Galang (Fight). Then is recovery which is by accelerating the recovery of conditions back to normal thus all those affected can return to their lives.

"As a result, we invite all to work together to complete what is our responsibility. Hope what we are doing will benefit Jakarta as a resilient province in dealing with disasters and build our spirit to continue fighting for humanity," he explained.

He then appreciated the pentahelix element's quick action in handling disaster in overcoming flooding after heavy rains from Friday (7/14) afternoon to Saturday (7/15) morning. "Alhamdulillah, on the same day, most of the floods have receded," he said.

The following is a quick response made by the administration, namely synergizing and collaborating with various stakeholders to handle flooding in some areas of Jakarta:

- Deploy field officers to suck up the water to make it recede quickly, assisted by the Water Resources (SDA) Agency, Fire and Rescue Agency (Gulkarmat) Service, and PPSU

- Map affected locations and the needs needed in the field

- Evacuate people who need help

- Perform intensive coordination with BMKG in terms of weather information updates, and other stakeholders to anticipate the future

As for the information, in anticipating flooding, Jakarta has developed a flood control system in a bid to optimize flood risk management in Jakarta. The data is integrated into one platform, and the flood control system will perform an analysis to produce information about conditions, potentials, and predictions to solve the flood problem.

The data will also be an asset and source of information for the government to make decisions regarding flood management in Jakarta. By so, flood prevention and management efforts will be more effective and on target. It is expected to provide up-to-date flood monitoring, accelerate government response, and increase public awareness.

This flood control system has led Jakarta to become a champion at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) award event, this award was given in Geneva, Switzerland, last June.

Jakarta BPBD Head Isnawa Adji added that the three-day meeting would be a forum for evaluation by making an inventory of various problems and finding solutions to various challenges to achieve optimization of disaster management. Despite there were bad things that resulted, disasters could also provide good opportunities, such as being a trigger for the rise of a new, better, and more resilient life.

As for the information, at the opening of this meeting, a kaleidoscope of Jakarta's disaster management journey from 2013 to 2022 was also displayed. In addition, the signing of a Cooperation Agreement (PKS) between the administration and the Regional Quarters (Kwarda) of the Jakarta Scout Movement and the State University of Jakarta (UNJ) was witnessed directly by the vice governor.

It was also attended by the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) represented by Reconstruction Rehabilitation Deputy Jarwansyah; Forkompimda, army/police, and all elements of the pentahelix in Jakarta which include related Ministries or Institutions, Jakarta regional apparatus organizations (OPD), community organizations, business institutions, academics, and mass media.