Kabupaten Bogor (ANTARA) – The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) emphasized the importance of the Disaster Pooling Fund (PFB) as a new financing mechanism for high-risk areas, including Bogor District and other vulnerable regions in West Java.BNPB’s Director of Disaster Mitigation, Zaenal Arifin, said the PFB was developed as a complementary instrument to the ready-to-use funds and rehabilitation and reconstruction grants that have been the main sources of disaster management financing.He noted that the scheme enables regions to access pre-disaster, emergency, and post-disaster funding more quickly and in a more measurable way.“Pooling funds are a state innovation to ensure the availability of disaster management resources,” Arifin said during a PFB outreach event at the Bogor District Regional Secretariat on Thursday.“This does not replace existing schemes but complements them to ensure faster and more effective disaster response,” he added.The Disaster Pooling Fund is a joint fund collected from various sources, including the State Budget (APBN), Regional Budget (APBD), grants, donors, trusts, and regional contributions. The funds are managed centrally.Arifin explained that the government had collected Rp7.3 trillion (around US$435.9 million) in PFB funds and gained investment returns of Rp1.2 trillion (around US$71.6 million) as of September 2025.Funds from these returns have begun to be distributed for pre-disaster activities and risk-transfer mechanisms through a state property insurance scheme.BNPB has also conducted pilot testing with four ministries and two regional governments, including Padang City and Minahasa District, to examine the governance and proposal mechanisms for the PFB.Starting in 2026, local governments not included in the pilot program may begin submitting funding proposals.Arifin said the proposals would be jointly verified by four ministries, with priority given to pre-disaster documents such as contingency plans, risk assessments, disaster management plans, and compliance with minimum service standards.From the regional perspective, the need for the PFB scheme is significant, particularly in West Java, which has the highest disaster risk index in the country.The Head of the West Java Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), Edy Heryadi, said Bogor District records the highest number of disaster events in the province.“West Java urgently needs this pooling fund. Bogor is at the highest risk, followed by Sukabumi, Cianjur, and West Bandung District. Some regions have very limited budgets, and disaster management cannot wait for funds to be available,” Heryadi said.He expressed hope that local governments would take advantage of the opportunity to apply for funding in 2026.He added that increasing funding through the PFB is essential to support the preparation of mandatory documents such as Disaster Risk Assessments, disaster management plans, and contingency plans, as well as drills, simulations, and post-disaster recovery, all of which require substantial resources.“With limited regional budgets and the 2026 efficiency policy, the PFB will be very helpful. We have followed the technical guidance for preparing proposals, and once directives from the central government are issued, West Java will be ready to apply,” he said.BNPB and the Ministry of Finance are currently conducting simultaneous PFB outreach across four provinces and will conclude the activities by planting 100,000 seedlings in critical river basins on November 21, coinciding with World Tree Day.
BNPB emphasizes need of pooling funds for disaster-prone areas
