Minister Of Home Affairs Asks Regional Heads To Coordinate With Bulog-BPS To Maintain Inflation

Minister Of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian/ ANTARA/HO-Puspen Ministry Of Home Affairs

JAKARTA - Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri) Tito Karnavian asked regional heads to continue to maintain inflation by coordinating with Bulog, Central Statistics Agency (BPS), and the Food Task Force at the regional level.

"All regional heads, please coordinate with Bulog, if there is stock, don't keep it, but distribute it. There are several findings stored, not distributed, as a result (rice) is scarce and (the price) is rising," Tito said at the Regional Inflation Control Coordination Meeting at the Sasana Bhakti Praja Building (SBP) Ministry of Home Affairs, Jakarta, reported by ANTARA, Monday, November 6.

Based on data held by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the prices of goods and services are relatively under control. He said inflation in October 2023 year-on-year was at 2.56 percent.

The inflation rate in monty-to-month is 0.17 percent or decreased compared to last month's 0.19 percent. This figure shows that national inflation is relatively under control.

However, the inflation rate in each region is still diverse, stretching from the lowest of 1.1 percent to the highest of 5 percent. For this reason, local governments need to continue to make control efforts, especially those whose inflation is above the national average.

"Please gentlemen, regional heads coordinate with district/city BPS, they have complete data, because what was conveyed by BPS earlier he has analyzed national figures, raw materials from each district/city BPS. So actually, regional heads can cut the route directly to their respective BPS, which every month also makes them have numbers," he said.

He said the coordination of regional heads with BPS is important. Moreover, BPS works to enter markets and distributors-distributors in order to monitor the Price Development Index (IPH).

In addition, he encouraged regional heads to mobilize the Food Task Force in their respective regions.

"Even though we actually ask the regional head to also move the Food Task Force, and I know the National Police Food Task Force to mobilize all ranks of the Regional Police and all ranks of the Resort Police. He also has data. Now we make it cross-checking data, from various agencies to get accurate information in the field, "explained Tito.

In addition, he also encouraged regional heads to carry out cheap market movements, including in locations that have not been touched by the National Food Agency (Bapanas).

His party also asked the Inspectorate General (Itjen) of the Ministry of Home Affairs to check which local governments have not or have carried out low-cost market movements. Later, the local government will be given awards and sanctions according to the performance carried out.

"If contacted, the Food Agency [will] help, even better if colleagues also move to carry out cheap market movements not only once from the Food Agency, with their respective BTT or regular social assistance, from the existing budget," he concluded.