Member of Commission II of the DPR from the Gerindra Faction, Azis Subekti, emphasized the importance of the financial system as a flexible instrument for disaster victims in the country. According to him, the presence of the state is not only to restore physical damage, but also to maintain the welfare of the people.
"Disasters never come with a warning. It comes suddenly, destroys houses, fields, boats, and at the same time shakes the livelihood of the people. In situations like this, the presence of the state is not enough to be measured by the speed of data collection of physical damage, but by its ability to maintain the sustainability of the economic life of the affected people," said Azis Subekti in his statement, Wednesday, January 28.
According to Azis, the economic protection policy for disaster victims needs to be understood as the responsibility of the state. He assessed that those who lost property and livelihoods due to disasters should not bear the financial burden as if conditions were normal.
"A financial system that remains rigid in the midst of extraordinary situations risks prolonging the social impact of disasters," he said.
"Data shows that around 237 thousand banking customers in Sumatra are directly affected by natural disasters and need credit restructuring. This figure reflects the real conditions on the ground: farmers who failed to harvest, small traders who lost their businesses, fishermen who no longer go to sea, and families whose income suddenly stopped. In this context, the potential for default is not a matter of financial discipline, but the consequences of serious disruptions to livelihoods," he continued.
Therefore, the Gerindra Legislator from the Central Java VI District assessed that credit restructuring needs to be placed as an instrument for social and economic protection. He emphasized, this policy is not a form of special treatment, but a buffer step so that disaster victims are not pushed into deeper poverty.
"Without timely intervention, natural disasters can develop into prolonged economic pressures at the household level," he said.
In addition, Azis said, the role of the Financial Services Authority together with national banks is crucial in ensuring that this policy is effective. The credit relief scheme needs to be realized quickly, consistently, and easily accessible.
"Delays in payments, extension of tenor, interest rate adjustments, and treatment of credit quality that remains healthy must be truly felt by affected people. Procedures that are too complex and slow to implement have the potential to reduce the purpose of the policy protection itself," he said.
This policy, continued Azis, also emphasizes that post-disaster recovery is not only related to the reconstruction of physical infrastructure. The burden of debt that continues to run and the uncertainty of daily economics are real problems that affect the resilience of victim families.
Therefore, said Azis, financial recovery needs to go hand in hand with physical rehabilitation so that the community has enough space to be productive again.
"In the end, the national financial system is required to be able to adapt in emergency situations. Flexibility in policy is not an abandonment of the principle of prudence, but rather part of the state's responsibility in protecting its citizens," he said.
"In disasters, the public does not demand privileges. What is needed is certainty that policies work, the state is present, and economic recovery is carried out fairly and on time," concluded Azis.
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