Social Affairs Minister Risma Optimizes RAPI for Disaster Management

TANAH DATAR (May 16, 2024) - Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini optimizes the Indonesian Amateur Radio (RAPI) network for disaster management in the country. The RAPI network has many advantages, including low cost and a nationwide network. It is not affected when an earthquake causes power outages or if towers do not function.

"Now, I will always carry a handy talky everywhere I go. Twenty-four hours HT will always be beside me," said Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini when trying to communicate using a handy talky utilizing the RAPI network with Social Affairs Ministry Secretary General Robben Rico. Secretary General Robben Rico is at the Ministry of Social Affairs Office in Jakarta, while Social Affairs Minister Risma is at the evacuation site of Mount Marapi cold lava flood victims at the Ubudiyah Mosque, Parambahan, Lima Kaum District, Tanah Datar Regency, West Sumatra, Thursday (16/5) afternoon.

During the trial, HT's voice was clear and precise. Other RAPI members also monitored the conversation, especially those in West Sumatra. "Alhamdulillah... Alhamdulillah, this is helpful. Maybe other RAPI friends who hear this can use this line to report if a disaster occurs," said Social Affairs Minister Risma.

Harris Subia Praja, Waka II Pengnas RAPI, said that this was a request from Social Affairs Minister Risma to be able to coordinate with Tagana friends who are at the disaster site, whether in the public kitchen or at the evacuation post. "So Mrs. Risma can monitor Tagana friends in the area directionally, either in the public kitchen or at the evacuation post," Harris explained. Harris also ensures that this system can reach all of Indonesia because it combines the existing internet network with the conventional manual radio communication network. Harris admitted that RAPI's advantage lies in its efforts to bridge information from the field to the government through its more than 70,000 members.

On the other hand, Social Affairs Minister Risma said the advantage of RAPI lies in its system, which is not interrupted even if the electricity goes out. The internet provider tower is down, making communication difficult. "If you use this channel, in my opinion, it is cheap and undisturbed when the electricity goes out or the provider tower has problems," said Risma. That's why Social Minister Risma and all Ministry of Social Affairs levels will use RAPI infrastructure to communicate in disaster management.

"So RAPI friends, now we can communicate. RAPI friends can convey information if a disaster occurs. I immediately received it because everywhere I will always carry HT," said Social Affairs Minister Risma, who stated that she always carried HT everywhere when she served as Mayor of Surabaya.