President Salurkan BLT El Nino In Pekalongan

President Joko Widodo during a dialogue with the beneficiaries of El Nino's Direct Cash Assistance (BLT) at the Pekalongan Post Office, Pekalongan City, Central Java Province, Wednesday (13/12/2023). (ANTARA/HO-Presidential Secretariat)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) distributed direct cash assistance (BLT) El Nino to a number of beneficiaries at the Pekalongan Post Office, Pekalongan City, Central Java.

President Jokowi said that the El Nino BLT was an effort by the government to help people's purchasing power amid rising prices caused by drought.

"Because the heat is long, some of the prices for basic necessities have increased, especially the rice is closed with this," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, December 13.

President Jokowi also emphasized that the assistance could be used for daily needs, such as meeting nutritional needs.

"What do you want to use it for? The most important thing is for children's nutrition, family nutrition," he said during a dialogue with the beneficiaries.

In addition, the Head of State also ensured that the beneficiaries who were present at that time were also recipients of the government's rice reserve food assistance (CBP) whose distribution had started since September 2023.

Is this also the recipient of rice? 10 kilograms per month? Which December has been received? It means September, October, November, plus December four times already? " asked the President.

"Already," replied the beneficiaries.

President Jokowi also said that the distribution of the aid would be continued by the government in 2024, precisely for January, February, March.

In addition, the President said that similar assistance would also be added for the next month period.

"Well, later if the APBN budget is still there, plus April, May, June," he said.