The Thrift Market Is Temporarily Postponed, Observers Give The Option Of Distributing Groceries To Homes

JAKARTA - The DKI Provincial Government has postponed the operation of the cheap market which has been running for several days. This delay was due to the fact that the community could not maintain the social distancing policy during the operation. Social distancing efforts are needed to prevent transmission of the corona virus or COVID-19.

Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (INDEF) researcher Nailul Huda said it would be better for the DKI Provincial Government to sell cheap groceries with a door-to-door distribution pattern to prevent people from gathering.

"It is most appropriate to use the home delivery pattern. However, accurate data is needed. If there is not, it is easiest to submit the mandate to RT and RW," said Nailul when contacted by VOI, Monday, March 23.

Meanwhile, Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (INDEF) researcher Bhima Yudhistira said that another way the DKI Provincial Government can do is to carry out operations in the wholesale market, by selling cheap groceries to traders. After that, the traders will sell it to the public at a price that is not much different. In this way, the queue for residents can be minimized.

"If you want to operate the market, you don't need to operate in the community, but operate in the wholesale market, where the big traders are there. It is more effective and there are no queuing residents," said Bhima.

The bargain market operation has been going on since Wednesday, March 18th. When this operation was opened, the situation was running safely and smoothly. Residents follow the appeal of social distancing by keeping a distance of one meter from other residents who are lining up in front of and behind them. However, in the next few days, residents began to fear running out of basic necessities and no longer followed the appeal.

Cheap basic food prices include sugar Rp12,500 per kilogram, rice Rp8,500 per kilogram, cooking oil Rp11,500 per liter, wheat flour Rp8,500 per kilogram, and chicken eggs Rp23,000 per kilogram.

"On the fifth day (Sunday, March 22) the situation became constrained, due to the enthusiasm of the residents which resulted in not maintaining a safe distance (social distancing)," said Acting Head of the DKI Jakarta Industry, Trade, Cooperatives, Small and Medium Enterprises (PPKUKM) Office, Elisabeth Ratu Rante Allo to reporters, Sunday, March 22.

Illustration (Ilham Amin / VOI)

The postponement of low-cost market operations is in ten locations spread across five administrative cities, namely Pal Meriam Market, Cidodol Market, Tanah Abang District Office, West Pademangan Market, Tambora Market, Pondok Bambu Market, Bukit Duri Market, Gondangdia Market, Tugu Market, and Slipi Market.

Postponements take effect on Monday, 23 March and Tuesday 24 March. In these two days, the PPKUKM Office evaluated their steps in suppressing the increase in the price of people's daily necessities.

Ratu said that the operation of this cheap market would be tightened, in accordance with the health protocol recommended by WHO, the Central Government, and the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government. This is so that citizens are always aware of the transmission of the virus originating from China.

"There must be social distancing of 1 (one) meter, and it will be ensured that everyone who comes wearing a mask," said Ratu.

"Hopefully, people will remain safe and secure to get their food needs (rice, oil and sugar) which are becoming scarce amid the COVID-19 outbreak," he added.