Accelerate Distribution Of Food Aid, NFA Strengthens Governance

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Head of the National Food Agency (NFA) Arief Prasetyo Adi said to ensure the distribution of food aid so that it is on target and on target, strengthening food aid management is needed.

Furthermore, Arief said, the distribution of food aid also concerns the fulfillment of basic needs for the community, especially those with low income.

"This food assistance is very important for our brothers and sisters, especially low-income people, so that they can get food, so that food spending can be reduced. In the end, this will have an impact on controlled inflation. Therefore, evaluating the implementation of this distribution is also an important aspect to ensure that the assistance is right on target," he said in Jakarta, Sunday, October 29.

Meanwhile, NFA's Director of Food Distribution and Reserves Rachmi Widiriani said NFA had evaluated the distribution of food aid from 26 to 28 October 2023 in Surabaya.

This evaluation was attended by the Indonesian Ombudsman, Perum Bulog, ID FOOD, the National Police Food Task Force, and all provincial offices that handle food, social, and Regional Offices of the BKKBN and family offices planning 7 regions namely North Sumatra, Banten, West Java, East Java, Central Java, East Java, NTT, and West Sulawesi.

Rachmi said from the results of the evaluation, there are three aspects that need to be strengthened, namely updating recipient data, quality of assistance, and replacement mechanisms.

"We continue to improve this distribution mechanism, of course, with input from various stakeholders, so that with the extension of rice food assistance as directed by the President, the distribution will be better and really target people in need," explained Rachmi.

Regarding data updating, Rachmi said, currently there is a correction to data updating on the number of Beneficiary Families (KPM) from 21.353 million to 20.66 million. This update is based on validation from the Ministry of Social Affairs where data on beneficiaries has changed due to death, moving locations, or being considered capable.

To maintain the quality of food assistance, NFA will prepare tracking tools for transporters to monitor the movement of food aid distribution in the field to minimize the potential for damage to goods at the time of delivery. This effort is important to maintain the quality of these food products until they reach the hands of beneficiaries," he said.

"In addition, we will prepare a hotline and special units to handle complaints from the public. This unit consists of cross-ministerial/institutional officers who will quickly follow up on public complaints and suggestions," added Rachmi.

Meanwhile, Member of the Indonesian Ombudsman Yeka Hendra Fatika said that his party continues to oversee public service activities carried out by government institutions and agencies including NFA, Perum Bulog, and ID FOOD. According to him, the food assistance program is part of public service activities so that it needs to be ensured that there will be no maladministration.

"The Ombudsman seeks to strengthen regulations so that the National Food Agency has a stronger main task and authority, the infrastructure is getting better, preventing maladministration," Yeka explained.