Jokowi Talks About Social Assistance, Ensures The State Budget Is Right To Continue Assistance

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) emphasized that the government will continue to monitor the availability of the State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBN) to ensure the continuation of the food assistance program which has so far been felt by the community.

Jokowi conveyed this when he visited the Bulog Kampung Melayu Warehouse Complex, Singkawang City, West Kalimantan (West Kalimantan), on Wednesday, March 20.

to review the availability of rice and hand over food assistance to the beneficiary community.

"Later, after June I will see again our APBN, there is no budget. If there is, it will be continued, but no promise, I have not promised. I will open it first so that it can be continued until December. But once again, see if the budget is there or not," said President Jokowi in a written statement from the Press Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat in Jakarta, Wednesday.

Ayu, one of the beneficiaries, said she was very grateful for the food assistance provided by the government, which helps her family's daily needs.

"I'm really happy. Alhamdulillah, it really helps to increase food prices, like now the price of rice is quite high in price, so this assistance is very helpful for the needs of my husband and I," he said.

Another resident, Maswah, revealed how this assistance eased his life's burden. He also hopes that the assistance can continue. "I really hope that it will continue (the assistance) because this really helps us and we really need it," said Maswah.

Meanwhile, Paijan, a construction worker, admitted that he was enthusiastic to meet and shake hands with President Jokowi and said that the food assistance really helped his uncertain income.

"For families like us, of course, it is quite helpful, because our income is not fixed, sometimes there are, sometimes not, with assistance, we feel helped," said Paijan.

This food aid delivery activity reaffirms the government's commitment to help reduce the burden on the underprivileged.

This food aid program is expected to continue and have a positive impact on more people in the future.

Also accompanying President Jokowi in this activity were the Chairman of Commission V DPR RI Lassarus, Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Erick Thohir, Head of the National Food Agency Arief Prasetyo Adi, Acting Governor of West Kalimantan Harisson, and Acting Mayor of Singkawang Sumastro.