PROBOLINGGO, PASURUAN (September 28, 2019) - Thousands of humanitarian volunteers who are members of the Indonesian Disaster Voluntary Worker (TAGANA) held a Disaster Voluntary Ceremony at the Sand Sea of Mount Bromo National Park, Probolinggo Regency, Saturday.

The Tagana Alert Ceremony is one of a series of 2019 National Tagana Jamboree and Social Service activities held by the Ministry of Social Affairs in Pasuruan, East Java, September 25-28, 2019.

"Various Tagana activities always invite us to care for the lives of others, hence the theme of the Jamboree this time in Javanese Urip Gawe Urup," said Khofifah Indar Parawansa in her direction.

The event was led by East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa and attended by 2,000 people consisting of representatives of Tagana Indonesia from 34 provinces.

"Thank you to all East Java volunteers, Pioneers of Peace, Family Hope Program (PKH) Facilitators, District Social Welfare Workers (TKSK), Community Social Workers (PSM), and of course thank you to all the Tengger people including the entire Tengger area which today we will inaugurate as part of the Tengger Bromo Semeru Disaster Alert Area. And also thank you to the humanitarian fighters of Tagana," said Khofifah.

The Bromo Disaster Alert Area is the development of a disaster voluntary village in the Mount Bromo Tengger Semeru area which is supported and facilitated by Tagana in Malang Regency, Pasuruan Regency, and Probolinggo Regency.

The declaration of KSB was symbolically carried out by the Governor of East Java and the Director General of Social Security by lifting a mountain fir tree seedling and followed by all ceremony participants and guests.

The KSB that was launched involved five KSBs, namely KSB Mahameru Malang Regency, KSB Tengger Lestari Tosari Pasuruan Regency, KSB Ngadirejo Probolinggo Regency, KSB Sukapura Probolinggo Regency, KSB Tiris Probolinggo Regency.

Director General of Social Protection and Security Harry Hikmat said KSB is a formal forum for community-based disaster management in the sub-district and is used as an area or place for disaster management programs.

The target of KSB, he continued, is the area of a number of villages/sub-districts identified as having disaster risks. In KSB, Tagana plays a role in facilitating the community in developing KSB work plans, disseminating disaster management information to the community, providing practical disaster management skills to the community, and assisting the community in preparing Disaster Risk Maps.

"The community is the first party to directly face the threat of disaster, therefore through KSB and Tagana we build Community Based Disaster Management," explained the Director General.

Present at the event were the Deputy Governor of Bengkulu, Regents, and Mayors, Regional Heads in East Java, Heads of Social Office throughout Indonesia, Tagana Founders, and Trustees, as well as ASEAN representatives from Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, and Myanmar. Also present were representatives of national NGOs, international NGOs, Disaster Voluntary Village (KSB) representatives, Social Pillars, and other humanitarian volunteers.

At the event, there was also the inauguration of Tagana Trustees by the Governor of East Java to the Regent of Probolinggo and the Regent of Pasuruan and the handover of the Tagana Pataka from the Governor of East Java to the Director General of Social Security.

Tagana Competency Test

This activity was held at Graha Wilwatikta Park and Ranu Grati Lake, Pasuruan Regency by involving representatives of Tagana from each province throughout Indonesia.

The competency test themes include Command Post and TRC, Public Kitchen and Logistics, Psychosocial Support Services, Shelter, First Aid in Emergency, and Water Rescue.

Judges came from the Ministry of Social Affairs, Basarnas, for water rescue competencies, Word Food Program (WFP), the Indonesian Red Cross, Academics, and Practitioners.

One of the Logistics Category Judges, Iskandar Zulkarnaen, said the assessment elements in the Tagana competency test included knowledge, skills, and management.

"It also assesses cooperation, coordination, accuracy, neatness, and speed," he said.

From all competency test fields, Tagana became the overall champion with 2 gold, 2 silver, and 1 bronze.

The Minister of Social Affairs also awarded the National Level Exemplary Tagana and Outstanding Tagana Supervisor as an appreciation for their work and efforts in disaster management.

The 1st Exemplary Tagana Award was won by Moh. Zainuri, Tagana of East Java Province. The Tagana Exemplary Award 2 was won by Abu Salim, Tagana Banten Province and the Tagana Exemplary Award 3 went to Agus Maksum, Tagana Yogyakarta Province.

The Minister of Social Affairs also gave awards to Potential Exemplary Tagana who have creative ideas and innovations in carrying out their duties as humanitarian volunteers.

This year the award was given to Ari Wijaya Tagana Lampung Province, Heriana Ade Candra Tagana Central Java Province, Riki Fernando Tagana Riau Province, Ade Deni Tagana West Java Province, Jiono Tagana West Nusa Tenggara Province, I Made Oke A. Tagana South Kalimantan Province, and Roni Akbar R. Tagana East Kalimantan Province.

Meanwhile, the Outstanding Tagana Supervisors were awarded to the Governor of East Java, Governor of Aceh, Governor of Bengkulu, Regent of Pandeglang, Regent of Pangandaran, Regent of Banyuwangi, Regent of Tuban, Regent of Probolinggo, Regent of Pasuruan, Regent of North Luwu, Head of Social Office of East Java Province, Head of Social Office of Lampung Province, Head of Social Office of Yogyakarta Province, Head of Social Office of Central Sulawesi Province, and Daily Executive Head of BPBD of NTB Province.

Acting Head of Public Relations Bureau RI Ministry of Social Affairs
Sonny W. Manalu