Distributes Cash Assistance And BLT Cooking Oil To Market Traders In Cirebon, Jokowi: Don't Buy Handphone!

President Jokowi provides a number of social assistance at Harjamukti Market, Cirebon, West Java, Wednesday (13/04/2022). (Photo: Public Relations of Setkab/Teguh)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo visited Harjamukti Market, Cirebon City, West Java to provide a number of social assistance during his working visit today, Wednesday, April 13.

The social assistance that he directly distributed was working capital assistance (BMK) for business actors and direct cash assistance (BLT) for cooking oil to participants in the Family Hope Program (PKH).

Seen in the Presidential Secretariat's Youtube video, Jokowi gave a message to the merchants who received the aid wrapped in white envelopes, to make the best use of the aid.

Jokowi also advised that similar assistance should not be used to buy other goods such as cellphones or handphones (HP).

"What is this for, ladies? For additional working capital. Remember not to buy cellphones," Jokowi said, Wednesday, April 13.

"No, sir," answered the woman.

On that occasion, Jokowi revealed that the distribution of BLT in Cirebon was the first time. Meanwhile, Jokowi considers that the provision of business capital assistance is still needed for traders who want to revive their business after the COVID-19 pandemic conditions have slowed down.

"Giving additional business capital of IDR 1.2 million to traders. I think this is due to the declining condition of COVID, they are starting their business again in the market so that some need injections to start their business and we have given it," said Jokowi.

Jokowi hopes that the provision of business capital assistance to cooking oil BLT provided by the government can again increase people's purchasing power. Moreover, traders need to increase the supply of their merchandise ahead of the current Eid.

"If we see that the markets are starting to get crowded, very crowded. This is also before Eid al-Fitr, so there is an increase in purchasing power, so that business capital for traders is needed," he added.

For information, during this working visit, Jokowi was accompanied by Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Governor of West Java Ridwan Kamil, Mayor of Cirebon Nashrudin Azis, Secretary of the Directorate General of Social Protection and Security at the Ministry of Social Affairs Robben Rico, and Head of Harjamukti Market Suwira.