Academics Suggests Three: Post-Flood Program To Recover South Kalimantan's Economy

Floods in Banjarbaru City and Tanah Laut District (Firman / Antara)

JAKARTA - University of Lambung Mangkurat (ULM) economist Hidayatullah Muttaqin SE, MSI, Pg.D said that the economic recovery program had to be fast after the massive floods that hit South Kalimantan (Kalsel).

"This is because the delay in post-flood recovery can lead to new social problems in the community," said Hidayatullah, in Banjarmasin, Wednesday, January 20.

According to Muttaqin, in addition to having to move quickly to save residents trapped and affected by floods, the regional and central governments must have prepared a community economic recovery strategy from now on.

He explained, there are three conditions in society that must be considered. First, they need help to repair damaged houses and property.

Second, many people have damaged their means of livelihood, such as agricultural land, ponds, shops and markets, and so on.

Third, damage to infrastructure has hampered the economic recovery of the community. For example, the breaking of a bridge that connects the area with the provincial capital.

Based on these conditions, Muttaqin suggested several economic recovery strategies that could be used, including preparing a special social assistance package or social assistance for the impact of the floods with the amount and duration of assistance adjusted to the severity of the flood.

This assistance is needed so that residents affected by the flood have the purchasing power to meet their basic needs. Likewise, with this purchasing power, the economic turnover in the flood-affected areas can resume even though at the initial stage it will be slow.

The next thing that is quite important is the waiver of PLN and PDAM electricity bills from one to three months, depending on the severity of the flood impacts experienced by the community. This is important to reduce the burden on households and businesses affected by flooding during the recovery period.

Furthermore, the provision of interest-free credit to micro and small businesses, seed assistance, and rehabilitation of agricultural land damaged by floods.

Finally, repair damaged infrastructure with fast bureaucracy and using the best technology. The goal is that infrastructure can be quickly reused by the community, thereby helping to accelerate economic recovery, especially in areas most affected by flooding, such as Banjar District, Hulu Sungai Tengah and Tanah Laut.

"It is hoped that with this strategy, the burden on the community due to floods in the midst of a pandemic situation can be reduced and post-flood economic recovery will take place faster," said the member of the ULM Expert Team for the Acceleration of Handling COVID-19.