Controlling Production To Distribution Of Cooking Oil, The National Police Food Task Force Ensures Stocks And Prices Are Safe Ahead Of Ramadan

Traditional market illustration. (Antaranews)

JAKARTA - The National Police's Food Task Force has taken steps to monitor and prevent irregularities in the distribution and allocation of cooking oil due to the price disparity between bulk and packaged products.

Currently, the HET (Highest Retail Price) for bulk cooking oil is still at Rp. 14,000 per liter or Rp. 15,500 per liter, which is quite far below the HAK (Economic Reference Price). Where, with the difference, it is feared that deviations will occur.

"This fairly large price disparity is certainly prone to deviations in distribution and allocation, for that the National Police's Food Task Force is taking preventive measures," said the Head of the National Police's Food Task Force Inspector General Pol Helmy Santika to reporters, Saturday, March 26.

According to Helmy, supervision is carried out starting from the production process to the distribution of bulk oil. So, there is no gap for people who try to cheat.

"Especially in distribution, it must be clearly monitored and supervised by related institutions. And at the direction of the National Police Chief, Bhabinkamtibmas in the region is involved in monitoring in the field," he said.

Not only that, the National Police's Food Task Force will also appeal and provide information regarding the HET of bulk cooking oil which is specifically intended for the community.

In general, Helmy emphasized, the availability of cooking oil is currently guaranteed and sufficient for national needs. Regarding the price increase, all of this was caused by the increase in the price of CPO as the main ingredient for cooking oil.

"Price increases were also experienced by several other commodities, the fulfillment of which is still largely dependent on imports, such as soybeans, sugar and beef," said Helmy.

To help the government control prices and ensure food supplies ahead of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr, continued Helmy, the National Police Chief has instructed all Regional Police Chiefs to have their staff go to the field to directly check the availability and distribution of basic commodities in their respective areas.

"Polda and its ranks must take immediate anticipatory steps if it is found that there are commodities that are disrupted in supply or availability, together with the relevant agencies," said Helmy.