Cisarua Landslide Tragedy, Iwan Suryawan Demands Total Land Audit and Optimization of BTT Rp328 Billion

BANDUNG - Deputy Chairman of the West Java Provincial DPRD, Iwan Suryawan, called for concrete steps that go beyond mere emergency responses in responding to the landslide tragedy in Pasirlangu Village, Cisarua District, West Bandung Regency.

The tragedy that occurred last Saturday has now recorded a worrying figure, with 17 residents declared dead and 71 others are still being intensively searched by the joint SAR team.

In the midst of grief that enveloped the foot of Mount Burangrang, Iwan emphasized that the destruction of dozens of residents' houses was a signal that the carrying capacity of the environment was at a critical point.

"This is not just a statistic, but a signal that the carrying capacity of the environment in West Bandung is already at a critical point due to land function shifts," said Iwan on Monday (26/1).

As the main solution step, Iwan encouraged the West Java Provincial Government to immediately optimize the 2026 Unforeseen Expenditure (BTT) fund which was allocated at Rp328 billion.

The PKS senior politician emphasized that the budget must be focused on the permanent recovery of landslide prevention infrastructure and the provision of decent housing for more than 400 refugees.

"Prioritize the humanitarian side first, save our citizens, accelerate the repair, and it can use BTT funds," he said.

In line with this, West Java Regional Secretary Herman Suryatman ensured that the regional treasury was in an adequate position for emergency intervention, even though there were other responsibilities in the Bogor area.

"Enough, the budget is available," said Herman briefly.

Apart from logistics, Iwan Suryawan highlighted field findings regarding the use of plastic on plantation land on the hilltops which is suspected to hinder water absorption.

He urged the government to conduct a thorough audit of land permits and restore forest functions in upstream areas through massive reforestation.

Iwan suggested collaboration through the company's CSR scheme to replant strong-rooted trees in critical areas that have been converted into seasonal farmland.

On the other hand, Governor Dedi Mulyadi has instructed stimulus assistance of Rp. 10 million per Head of Household for refugees to provide for their lives during the recovery period.

However, Iwan reminded that long-term solutions such as the permanent relocation of residents in the red zone should not be ignored.

He also emphasized the importance of investing in Early Warning System (EWS) technology at vulnerable points.

"Investment in early detection tools is much cheaper than the cost of post-disaster recovery," added Iwan.

He asked the West Bandung Regency Government to tighten the Building Permit (IMB) in hilly areas and glorify the Disaster-Resistant Village (Destana) program.

Through the integration of these technical and environmental wisdom steps, it is hoped that disaster management in West Java will no longer be an annual routine, but a transformation towards a truly resilient province.