[Unpad Media Channel] To support the post-earthquake disaster response in Sumedang, Universitas Padjadjaran donates IDR 250 million to the Sumedang Regency Government.
The donation handover is given directly from the Rector of Unpad, Prof. Rina Indiastuti, to the Acting Regent of Sumedang, Herman Suryatman, at Gedung Negara Sumedang, Wednesday (3/1/2024). The event is also attended by several Executive Boards and Faculty Administrations of Unpad. The Acting Regional Secretary of Sumedang, Tuti Ruswati, and several government officials from the Sumedang Regency also participates in the event.
In her speech, the Rector said that the collected donations from the Unpad community expressed concern for the consecutive earthquake disasters that occurred on Sunday (31/12/2023) and Monday (1/1/2024).
The Rector continued that as a higher education located in Sumedang Regency, Unpad also felt that the earthquake disaster in Sumedang was not easy to face, especially for the affected society. Therefore, with the support from the Unpad community, the collected donations are hoped to help the disaster recovery process.
“We deliver this humble assistance, hoping it will be beneficial for post-earthquake relief efforts,” said the Rector.
Unpad is also ready to help the recovery process or another effort the Sumedang Regency Government needs. “What we can assist with, we will listen. If it falls within our competence and capacity, we will help,” she explained.
Moreover, Herman appreciates the donation given by Unpad. According to him, Unpad was the first higher education institution to pay attention to Sumedang society after the earthquake.
“Thank you for the attention and solidarity, the Rector, and the academic community of Unpad,” he said.
Herman assessed that the earthquake was a new occurrence in Sumedang. Reflecting on the earthquake’s epicenter, which is located in the city center, it can be affirmed that the Sumedang region has become one of the new earthquake epicenters.
He continued that the impact of the earthquake necessitates the need for new planning in Sumedang. “So far, we have been doing a response program for landslide and flood disasters, while earthquakes are a new aspect,” he added.
In the near future, the earthquake issue will be included in the Regional Long-Term Development Plan (Rencana Pembangunan Jangka Panjang Daerah or RPJPD) for the next 20 years. Regarding this issue, the Sumedang Regency Government needs Unpad’s encouragement to support the planning revision process, including seismic potential.
Herman, an alumnus of the Postgraduate Program of Public Administration Program at Unpad, said that support from Unpad was needed to ensure that the arrangement of RPJPD advocated sustainability. One of them is to anticipate earthquake hazards.
“It becomes a massive peer in the future. The redesign of Sumedang must include a disaster mitigation factor,” said Herman.
In the meeting, Herman also discussed collaborative plans that can be undertaken with Unpad to strengthen community capacity and well-being. (arm/SA)*
