Minister Zulhas Appreciates DKI Jakarta Provincial Government's Cheap Subsidized Food Program

JAKARTA - Minister of Trade, Zulkifli Hasan, appreciates the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government (Pemprov) which has consistently over the years held the Subsidized Cheap Food Program in the Jakarta and Islands area.

This was said by Minister Zulkifli while reviewing the Market Operation Availability of Supply and Price Stabilization (KPSH) which was held at the Cipinang Rice Main Market, Monday, October 3.

According to him, the increase in the price of rice will have an impact on the inflation rate in Indonesia, so it must be kept stable. Therefore, one of the steps to maintain rice prices is the price subsidy provided by the regional government.

"This requires the local government to respond quickly and the Subsidized Cheap Food Program carried out by the DKI Provincial Government is a concrete example of the right response from the local government", he said.

Zulkifli gave an example, the price of rice in Jakarta is still stable because the local government intervened by providing price subsidies.

"Regardless of price fluctuations in the market, the Regional Government guarantees that the price is stable, the difference is not much, around IDR 1,000, not much, but with that, the price will not fluctuate, just like DKI, the price is subsidized by the regional government", he said.

Zulkifli also said that the President is very active in monitoring price developments, his party together with the relevant Ministries/Institutions met with rice traders to find out the cause of the increase in rice prices. He said that the price of rice should have decreased, but in fact, it rose from August to September.

Furthermore, regarding the local government's intervention in rice prices, Zulkifli said President Jokowi had brought together the Governors, Mayors, and Regents.

"So we now (rice prices) should have prices for basic goods because they have a high impact", he said.

President Director of PT Food Station Tjipinang Jaya, Pamrihadi said, a total of 1.1 million residents of the capital city received the benefits of the subsidized low-cost food program and distributed it through 312 locations throughout Jakarta. Of the 312 locations, 159 of them were distributed by Perumda Pasar Jaya in the markets of the capital city. Then, 108 points are located in the RPTRA of flats, 30 locations in the Thousand Islands, the rest are distributed by Perumda Dharma Jaya and the Cipinang Rice Main Market. The cheap food packages consist of rice, meat, beef, eggs, chicken, fish, and milk.

Pamrihadi added that the distribution of cheap subsidized food has proven to be very helpful for Jakarta residents in dealing with food price fluctuations. The target is that there are 1.1 million beneficiaries who will benefit from this program.

According to him, the Subsidized Cheap Food Program is also distributed through PIBC outlets. This location can distribute as many as 1,500-2,000 packages to the beneficiary residents.

"This outlet at PIBC was opened last year to complete the distribution channel for the cheap food program, as well as to provide convenience for residents who want to take cheap food packages", explained Pamrihadi.

Head of the DKI Food, Maritime, and Fisheries Security Agency (KPKP), Suharini Eliawati, said that the subsidized low-cost food program will run from January to December 2022. The targets are children who hold Jakarta Smart Cards, Jakarta Elderly Cards, Disabilities, Residents of Flats, Honorary teachers have a maximum salary of 1.1 UMP (provincial minimum wage) and then PJLP (PHL, PPSU) with a minimum wage of IDR 1.1 million UMP.