Good News! Logistics Agency Starts Distributing Community Activity Restrictions Rice Aid Today

Photo illustration (Source: Bulog)

JAKARTA - Logistics Agency (Perum BULOG) has started to distribute additional Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) 2021 Rice Aid starting today for 10 million beneficiary families (KPM) of cash social assistance (BST) and 10 million family programs of hope (PKH), following the submission of data from the Ministry of Social Affairs on Friday, July 16.

BULOG President Director Budi Waseso said the distribution of aid was marked by the first departure of the PPKM Rice Aid truck from the BULOG Warehouse Complex, Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta. The distribution of similar assistance was also carried out simultaneously in all BULOG warehouses in Indonesia.

"According to instructions from the President, starting today, we will send this additional PPKM Rice Aid to 10 million KPM Cash Social Assistance and 10 million KPM Family Hope Program according to the data we received from the Ministry of Social Affairs. Each KPM will receive additional rice assistance as much as 10 kilograms (kg)", he said, in Jakarta, Sunday, July 18.

As is known, President Joko Widodo has instructed all levels to accelerate the distribution of all aid in the midst of the Emergency Community Activity Restriction (PPKM) policy, including the PPKM Rice Aid.

Furthermore, Budi said that Bulog had also established a quality control management tasked with ensuring the quality of rice according to the best quality standards. Including, is also committed to ensuring the quality and quantity of rice distributed by forming the Bulog Monitoring and Evaluation Team (Monev).

"In addition to forming the Monev Team, the board of directors and the team also went directly to the final stage of checking last Saturday to ensure the distribution of the additional 2021 PPKM Rice Aid can run smoothly in accordance with the direction of the President", he explained

Perum Bulog has prepared as much as 200.000 tons of rice for this additional PPKM Rice Aid according to the results of an Internal Meeting with the President and a number of related Ministers during the Implementation of Restrictions on Community Activities (PPKM).

"With the addition of the 2021 PPKM Rice Aid, not only the receiving community will benefit, but also farmers who are also community groups affected by COVID-19 because Bulog's rice comes from farmers' rice purchased according to the mandate from Presidential Instruction Number 5 of 2015", he said.

The former Head of the Indonesian National Narcotics Agency (BNN) said that the 2021 PPKM Rice Aid was disbursed in line with the implementation of the Java-Bali Emergency PPKM since July 3 and was extended until the end of July.

In addition to the additional Rice Aid, the government also distributed Cash Assistance, Electricity Tariff Reduction Assistance, Basic Food Card Assistance, Hope Family Program (PKH) Assistance and MSME Assistance.

"We realize that the task of fulfilling food for affected communities in each region will run well if there is synergy between all parties. For that I hope all parties involved can work together to make this program a success so that the benefits are felt directly by the community", he said.