REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla is mulling over a plan to merge the National Disaster Mitigation Board (BNPB) and the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas). He hoped it will strengthen disaster mitigation efforts in the country.

"We have BNPB and Basarnas, both of which help disaster victims. The two (institutions) almost have the same tasks. I think they could be merged some time in the future as they almost have the same tasks to rescue people from disasters," he said while opening a national workshop and seminar on building disaster resilient community in an inclusive and sustainable way here on Wednesday.

BNPB was set up based on Law No. 24/2007 on disaster mitigation and Presidential Regulation No. 8/2008. BNPB is tasked with coordinating disaster mitigation and emergency activities in an integrated way.

Meanwhile, under the Transportation Minister's Regulation No. 43/2005 on the Organization and Work Procedure of the Transportation Ministry, Basarnas is tasked with providing search and rescue assistance in mitigating disasters in accordance with the national and international SAR rules.

Currently, disaster mitigation efforts in Indonesia are better than those before a powerful earthquake and subsequent tsunami devastated Aceh province on December 26, 2004.

Hence, the vice president said disaster mitigation institution should be strengthened.

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