BNPB chief says disaster response funding remains unlimited despite budget cuts

The head of Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency, Lt. Gen. Suharyanto, rejected reports that the disaster response budget was slashed, stating that emergency funding is unlimited. He explained that cost-saving policies apply solely to routine expenses such as travel and catering, not to operational needs on the ground. Suharyanto highlighted the recent mobilization of a fleet of helicopters, including Kamov, SA330J Puma, Sikorsky and Super Puma models, to support wildfire prevention in Central Kalimantan.

Additional aircraft are on standby for water-bombing missions and weather-modification sorties over East Kotawaringin, Katingan and Palangka Raya. Despite these operational assurances, the agency’s overall budget has been decreasing each year, reaching roughly Rp491 billion in 2026, the lowest level in at least a decade.