JOGJAKARTA (KU) – The National Search and Rescue (SAR) Board cooperates with UGM to give SAR services to society by exploring the potential of students who love the Nature. The students will be equipped with education and training to enhance SAR programs in various regions.
"We will train the students to be able to play SAR roles and universities will make reviews for the betterment of the National SAR Board in the future," said Secretary of the Board, Drs. Max Ruland, M.M., M.Sc, to reporters alongside the signing of an MoU at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) in Yogyakarta on Monday (12/7). Max said that the Board also cooperated with Universitas Udayana, Universitas Hasanudin, Universitas Airlangga and Universitas Andalas.
He said that the Board cannot yet fully meet expectations. In the field, they are confronted by mountainous geographical areas or vast sea boundaries that caused their offices in some regions unable to work effectively. “We need further study so that we can work more effectively in regions,” he explained. Currently, the National SAR Board has 24 offices in various areas with each office has two SAR stations. The stations in areas such as Java, Kalimantan, Sulawesi and Papua are not effective due to the enormous area of coverage.
Max said that in terms of budgeting, the Government has provided enough funding with the amount in year 2011 amounting to Rp1.1 trillion or much higher than the current amount which stands at Rp500 million.
UGM Rector, Prof. Ir. Sudjarwadi,M.Eng., Ph.D., said that UGM was very happy to be able to collaborate with various institutions to build a better nation. “One of our goals is to participate in building the nation. We hope that the cooperation with the National SAR Board will run well,” he said.