MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM - The Indonesian government is accelerating the construction of permanent homes for people affected by natural disasters in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra. The housing program, originally scheduled to take three years, is now expected to be completed within two years. With more than 184,000 houses damaged across the three provinces, the shortened timeline presents a significant challenge for the ongoing recovery efforts.
President
Prabowo Subianto's directive to accelerate the construction of
permanent housing was the main focus of a monitoring and evaluation meeting on speeding up post-disaster rehabilitation and reconstruction following the 2025 disasters in Sumatra. The meeting took place on Friday, October 9, 2026, at the
North Sumatra Governor's Office at Jalan Diponegoro No. 30 in Medan. Participants included representatives from the Coordinating Ministry for Infrastructure and Regional Development, as well as officials from the governments of
Aceh and
West Sumatra.
Ronny Hutahaean, Deputy Coordinator for Housing, Infrastructure, and Settlement Services at the Coordinating Ministry for Infrastructure and Regional Development, explained that shortening the construction timeline would require adequate funding, sufficient supplies of building materials, and enough qualified construction companies and workers.
"Following President
Prabowo Subianto's directive in May 2026, the target for constructing permanent homes was shortened from the original three years to two years. This requirement calls for faster coordination of budget allocations, material supplies, and the capacity of implementing teams in the field," Ronny said.
According to the national operations center of the task force responsible for accelerating post-disaster rehabilitation and reconstruction, more than 184,000 houses were damaged in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra. Of the 57,027 permanent housing units planned, 2,085 had been completed by early October 2026, while another 1,882 units were still under construction.
These figures highlight the importance of accelerating construction, removing administrative obstacles, and strengthening cooperation among different levels of government. Such efforts are essential to help disaster-affected residents return to safe and adequate housing as soon as possible.
Land Issues Slow Permanent Housing Construction
The legal and physical availability of suitable land is among the main challenges that must be addressed to accelerate housing construction. Regional governments must ensure that designated sites are ready for development, land ownership has been legally clarified, locations comply with spatial planning regulations, and the areas are protected against recurring natural hazards.
During the meeting, North Sumatra Deputy Governor Surya emphasized that reconstruction must involve more than simply building new houses. The recovery process must also include the necessary infrastructure and public facilities to enable residents to resume their daily lives.
"Rebuilding homes means giving people back a place where they can begin their lives again. It is about restoring their sense of security and giving them hope that they can rebuild their future. That is why we need close cooperation between the central government, regional administrations, ministries and agencies, as well as humanitarian organizations," Deputy Governor Surya said.
Surya also stressed the importance of enforcing safety standards and ensuring adequate basic services at every new housing location.
"The housing must meet safety standards and provide access to clean water, sanitation, electricity, drainage, and essential public services. Beneficiary data must be reviewed and validated to ensure that assistance reaches the right people and can be monitored regularly," he said.
In addition to resolving land ownership issues and verifying beneficiary data, the government must ensure that roads, bridges, and public utilities support daily life in the new residential areas. Infrastructure development must proceed alongside house construction so that affected families do not face additional difficulties after moving into their new homes.
ACCELERATING HOUSING CONSTRUCTION: Ronny Hutahaean explains the reduction of the construction timeline for
permanent housing to two years, following President
Prabowo Subianto's directive. The accelerated program requires adequate funding, available building materials, and sufficient construction capacity. (PHOTO: Alexander AP Siahaan)
Thousands of Permanent Housing Units Under Construction in North Sumatra
In
North Sumatra, humanitarian organizations, regional governments, and ministries responsible for housing and settlement development are working together to provide permanent homes for disaster-affected residents.
The Buddha Tzu Chi Foundation has constructed 1,103 housing units to date. Of these, 441 are located in South Tapanuli Regency, 241 in Padangsidimpuan City, 200 in Sibolga City, 182 in Central Tapanuli Regency, and 103 in North Tapanuli Regency.
Meanwhile, the
North Sumatra Provincial Disaster Management Operations Center has built 100
permanent housing units. The Ministry of Housing and Settlement Areas is responsible for an additional 792 units.
Although numerous organizations and government agencies are already involved in providing housing, the government must continue resolving land readiness and legal ownership issues to ensure that construction is completed within the established deadlines. Regency and city governments have an important role in this process. They must ensure that designated construction sites meet all technical and legal requirements.
The National Disaster Management Agency is also overseeing the development of 27,809
permanent housing units under the in-situ approach, which involves rebuilding or repairing homes at their original locations. This model is intended to allow affected residents to return to their established neighborhoods.
LAND SECURITY AND HOUSING QUALITY: North Sumatra Deputy Governor Surya emphasizes the importance of legally secured land, safe housing, and essential infrastructure in restoring living conditions for disaster-affected residents. (PHOTO: Alexander AP Siahaan)
Modern Construction Technology and Local Workers to Accelerate Recovery
To improve construction efficiency, the government is promoting systematic planning for material supply chains, the use of Rumah Instan Sederhana Sehat (RISHA) technology for rapidly assembled, simple, and healthy housing, and the involvement of local workers and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises.
A reliable supply of construction materials is essential to keep building work progressing without major interruptions. This is particularly important given the shortened completion schedule. Planning for material requirements and available construction capacity must reflect the number of housing units to be built and the specific conditions in each affected area.
Involving local workers and small and medium-sized businesses is also expected to generate economic benefits for communities. In addition to accelerating reconstruction, the approach can create employment opportunities and strengthen regional economies during the post-disaster recovery period.
The government must also coordinate housing construction with the provision of essential utilities and public facilities. Clean water, sanitation, electricity, drainage, road access, and public facilities must be available to ensure that the completed houses meet residents' actual needs.
The coordination meeting was also attended by representatives from the Coordinating Ministry for Infrastructure and Regional Development, the Presidential Staff Office, the North Sumatra Regional Office of the National Land Agency, regional leadership coordination bodies, regents and mayors, and heads of regional government agencies from Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra. Some participants attended in person, while others joined virtually.
Reducing the housing construction target to two years requires the government to address all obstacles through coordinated efforts. These include resolving land ownership issues, validating beneficiary data, securing budget allocations, and ensuring the availability of building materials and supporting infrastructure.
The success of these measures will not be determined solely by the number of completed houses. More importantly, it will depend on whether disaster-affected residents can once again live in safe and adequate homes equipped with the essential facilities and services they need. (IDNC)
REPORTER:
Ahmad Zulfikar | EDITOR:
Fik Sagala