Minister of Social Affairs Gives Direction to Tagana in Heavy Rain

SENTUL (February 20, 2020) - A cloudy atmosphere enveloped the Tagana Training Center in Sentul, Bogor Regency, since morning. Minister of Social Affairs Juliari P. Batubara was present to give directions in the Tagana Intermediate Level activity.

When Juliari gave a speech, the rain fell heavily. The committee had moved the microphone closer to the Minister's seat in the main tent.  However, the Minister chose to move to the center of the field, and gave a speech in the rain, greeted by Tagana cheers. 

Echelon l and II officials who accompanied Juliari also stood in the middle of the field with clothes wet with rainwater. 

In his remarks, the Minister expressed his pride in Tagana. The Minister strongly supports the improvement of Tagana's professionalism because of their important role in disaster management. 

"How many lives can be saved by your presence in the middle of the disaster site? Therefore, I strongly support the strengthening of Tagana by reallocating the budget for disaster management," said the Minister, in Sentul, Bogor Regency, Thursday (20/02/2020).

Some time ago, the Minister of Social Affairs proposed efficiency and reallocation of the 2020 budget to Commission VIII of the DPR. One of the reallocated posts is disaster management, from the original IDR220 billion to IDR490 billion.

Regarding the speech in the rain, the Minister stated that it was one way to prove the readiness of state administrators to serve the people in any situation. "Do not let us serve the people by getting sick or cold easily. Must be ready in any condition," said the Minister, greeted by Tagana cheers. 

The Minister motivated Tagana who worked with a calling of the soul, full of sincerity and sacrifice. The Minister expressed his pride because Tagana became part of the great efforts of the government and the people of Indonesia where "a disaster is a permanent event".

Taruna Siaga Bencana or better known as Tagana is a Community-Based Disaster Management Volunteer.  Tagana now also plays an active role in the process of disaster education for the community at large and is one of the frontlines in disaster preparedness and mitigation efforts.  This is a manifestation of the mandate of Law Number 24 of 2007 in Disaster Management.

Furthermore, Juliari stated that the  Associate Tagana Leveling activity was a place to instill and maintain the values of solidarity and sincerity as Volunteers in Disaster Management.

"Make this Intermediate Tagana Leveling event a milestone for the start of improving the quality and existence of the role of Tagana which is contemporary, millennial and always flexible to adapt to changing times, science and technology," said Juliari.

In this event, the Minister of Social Affairs saw up close the various facilities and equipment used by Tagana and supported its duties at the disaster site. The Minister also witnessed a demonstration of Tagana members as they handled various difficult and emergency situations, including helping victims. 

The Minister even acted as a victim who was carried by a pair of metal sticks with a tarpaulin base. And it can be done well by Tagana.

Public Relations Bureau

Ministry of Social Affairs RI