Bulog: News Of Disaster Aid Rice Sales In Takengon Hoaks

JAKARTA - Perum Bulog confirmed that the information circulating regarding the alleged sale of disaster aid rice to affected communities in Takengon, Central Aceh Regency, Aceh was certainly not true or a hoax.

"This clarification is in line with the official statement made by the Regent of Central Aceh, Haili Yoga, which has straightened out public misunderstandings regarding the issue," said Perum Bulog Director of Operations and Public Services Andi Afdal in a statement reported by ANTARA, Friday, December 5.

Andi ensured that his party had never sold disaster aid rice.

This, continued Andi, has also been emphasized by the Regent of Central Aceh that the rice sold to the public is not disaster relief rice, but rice stabilization of Supply and Food Prices (SPHP) through the Cheap Food Movement (GPM) program.

"SPHP rice is a regular government assignment program carried out by Bulog with the aim of maintaining food price stability, including in the midst of an emergency situation due to a disaster," he said.

In an official statement from the Central Aceh Regency Government, Andi continued, it was conveyed that the first important points of the Central Aceh Police and Kodim 0106 Central Aceh had never traded disaster aid rice.

Second, the involvement of TNI-Polri personnel is only limited to helping the process of distributing and selling cheap rice GPM from Bulog warehouses for the community.

"This step is a joint decision of the Central Aceh Forkopimda and Bulog as part of efforts to maintain food stability and prevent price fluctuations during the disaster period," he explained.

The Regent of Central Aceh, continued Andi, explained that the step was taken after the Bulog Takengon warehouse was crowded with people who needed rice, while the current food distribution was still disrupted due to road access which was cut off due to floods and landslides.

Perum Bulog emphasized that all rice aid for disaster, social assistance, and other emergency assistance was distributed free of charge to the affected communities.

The distribution is through food aid distribution mechanisms (Bandang), Regional Government Food Reserves (CPPD), Natural Disaster Government Rice Reserves (CBP Bencal), Care Bulog activities (Social and Environmental Responsibility Program/TJSL), as well as other assistance resulting from coordination with the local government and related agencies.

Andi emphasized that Bulog is currently focusing on supporting the handling of food access due to natural disasters.

"Together with the TNI, Polri, and the Central Aceh Forkopimda, BULOG continues to support the strengthening of collaboration in accelerating the distribution of food aid so that it can immediately reach flood victims who need it," said Andi.

Bulog also appealed to the public to be wiser in receiving and disseminating information, as well as ensuring the truth through official government sources.

Inaccurate information dissemination can cause unrest amid efforts to recover from disasters.

Previously, it circulated in the community about the sale of flood aid rice by the Central Aceh Police and Kodim 0106 Aceh Tengah.

This triggered the unrest of the people of Central Aceh whose condition was still isolated due to the disaster.

Central Aceh Regent Haili Yoga on Thursday (4/12) night clarified that the rice sold was not disaster relief rice, but rice from Bulog's regular stock or rice for the Cheap Food Movement (GPM) program.

The rice is indeed sold but at a price that has been determined by the government, to maintain market price stability in the midst of an emergency.

"To prevent panic, long queues, and potential riots, Forkopimda and Bulog decided that the distribution process is assisted by the Central Aceh Police and Kodim 0106. In this way, people can still get cheap rice in an orderly, safe and controlled manner," said Haili Yoga.