Private Sector Care for Disaster Risk Reduction in West Sumatra

Earthquake that hit West Sumatra last year and its possibility to strike again in future has raised awareness of business community on its impacts to their business. When earthquake hit the province, business sector centralized in Padang City was collapsed because its buildings were damaged (in various damage levels), its customers lost their purchasing power, and suppliers were unable to provide with goods and services as they usually do under normal situation. During that emergency, business people took initiative to respond with their own resources and capacity. The nature of effort, however, was more responsive, rather than planned or even coordinated actions. 

If we lok at historical records, West Sumatra has indeed experienced several destructive earthquakes. At least 14 major and destructive earthquakes occurred since 1822 to 2009, several of them caused tsunamis. Accordingly, many experts have predicted that earthquake (and other disasters) may repeat its coming in future. Considering the above, detailed action plan (http://www.box.net/shared/6chxsxbu4y) was then formulated by the government to rehabilitate and reconstruct the damaged. The strategies formulated were:

1. General Strategy for Recovery of Housing and Settlement Infrastructures;

2. General Strategy for Public Infrastructure Recovery

3. General Strategy for Social Recovery

4. General Strategy for the Recovery of Productive Economy

5. General Strategy for Cross-Sectoral Recovery

6. Disaster Risk Reduction

Taking into accounts the above lessons learned during emergency last year, the disaster history of West Sumatra, and recovery strategy no. 6, business community have recently gathered an informal gathering on June 12, 2010 at Bumbu Desa Restaurant to discuss on what and how business community will play its role in raising disaster awareness, preventing and preparing themselves, their customers, and potential investors to participate in emergency response, risk reduction, and its rehabilitation and reconstruction. In addition to civil society reponsibility of each business entity that should take place in nature of emergency, the discussion also led to a change of business mind set and strategy in their way to attract investors and potential customers, make better supply network, stockpiles, distribution chains, and communications that can link the kind of assistance of business community the needs of disaster-affected area.

The gathering facilitated by KOGAMi and Mercy Corps was following up the action plan of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Workshop for Private Sector Groups in West Sumatra held back in March 10-12, 2010. The participants were various stakeholders consisting of District and Provincial Agencies for Disaster Management (BPBD), Provincial Development Planning Agency (BAPPEDA), United Nations, international and local organizations, business companies and associations. 

Discussion in this gathering led to establishment of Private Sector Care for DRR Forum. Participants agreed that leading company of this forum is PT. Semen Padang represented by Ahmad Firdaus. He will be assisted by appointed secretary from INKINDO, Librina A. Sabri, and supported by RAPI (Syaiful Bahri), Yos Sudarso Hospital (Yudi Agus), Indonesia Architect Association (Dhasmayzal), West Sumatra Chamber of Commerce (Azis), APINDO (Muzakir Akin A). 

This newly established team has decided to meet internally by July to discuss detailed terms of reference of this forum, including but not limited to, memberships, goals and objectives, possible joint-effots, etc. Through this forum, the companies can work jointly in their response to emergencies, disaster ris reduction, rehabilitation and reconstruction. 

By Nova Ratnanto