MAUMERE
(22 June 2021) – In the midst of
rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts after some areas in East Nusa
Tenggara (NTT) Province were hit by the Tropical Cyclone Seroja disaster some
time ago, the Ministry of Social Affairs strengthened regional disaster mitigation
by increasing the competence of 311 Disaster Preparedness Cadets (Tagana) NTT.
This activity was carried out after the
Minister of Social Affairs, Tri Rismaharini visited several times to a number
of affected areas in NTT Province and instructed his staff to facilitate Tagana
training.
"He saw that Tagana NTT's friends were
not ready to face the disaster that occurred at that time, so he asked us to
facilitate this kind of training," said Director General of Social
Protection and Security of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Pepen Nazaruddin,
when opening the NTT Tagana Competency Improvement activity for three locations
virtually, Monday (21/6).
He then asked for the commitment of all Tagana
NTT involved to attend the training properly. "I want everyone to be
serious. Show that you are ready to face disasters in the NTT region," he
asked.
The education and training for Tagana NTT
which was held for four days (21 to 24 June 2021) was centered in three
locations, namely Maumere, Sikka Regency with 160 Tagana, Naibonat, Kupang
Regency with 111 Tagana, and Waingapu, East Sumba Regency with 40 Tagana.
First time in Indonesia
Meanwhile, the Director of Social Protection
for Victims of Natural Disasters (PSKBA), M. Safii Nasution said that the
improvement of competence for Tagana, especially in NTT Province, was the first
time. "This is the first training that we have conducted in
Indonesia," he said.
He emphasized that the Ministry of Social
Affairs' role in a disaster does not stop at the time of a disaster. “We are not
only present in the emergency response phase, but also the post-disaster.
We, along with other ranks, are also thinking about how Tagana's friends in NTT
can be ready to face the next disaster," he said.