Subsidized Bulk Cooking Oil, Police Ready To Control Market Availability

National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo/DOK PR POLRI

JAKARTA - The National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo ensured the readiness of the ranks to oversee the distribution of cooking oil on the market. This step was taken to ensure distribution and availability, especially since the government has subsidized the price of bulk cooking oil of Rp. 14 thousand for the highest retail price.

"We from the police are ready to oversee it so that the guarantee of distribution and availability in the market is really real on the ground," said Sigit in a press conference broadcast on the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube, Tuesday, March 15.

Sigit said his party is ready to cooperate with all parties to ensure the availability of bulk and packaged cooking oil. So, people don't have to struggle anymore to get it.

He also confirmed that before a limited meeting was held to discuss cooking oil, the police often carried out direct checks on the market. The aim is to find out the current conditions related to the distribution of cooking oil.

"From yesterday until this morning we have carried out direct checks on the market to find out the market mechanism related to the development of the oil price situation," he said.

"We will work with all existing stakeholders to ensure that all bulk and packaged oil are on the market," Sigit added.

As previously reported, the government will provide a subsidy of Rp. 14 thousand per liter for bulk palm cooking oil, both sold in supermarkets and traditional markets. This assurance was conveyed by the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto after attending a limited meeting.

The limited meeting was chaired directly by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi). Not only Airlangga, other ministers such as Minister of Trade Muhammad Lutfi, Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, and National Police Chief General of Police Listyo Sigit Prabowo were also present.

The policy was taken after the government paid attention to the distribution situation and the condition of the distribution of cooking oil. In addition, the provision of subsidies is also carried out after observing the global situation which has resulted in an increase in oil commodity prices, including vegetable oil.

"The government has decided that the government will subsidize the price of palm oil by Rp. 14,000 per liter," Airlangga said in a press conference broadcast after a limited meeting on the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube, Tuesday, March 15.

Airlangga explained that the subsidy will be given based on funds from BPDP-KS. "Then, related to the price of other packaging, of course, it will adjust rather than the economy, so we hope that with this economic value palm oil will be available in modern markets as well as in traditional markets," he explained.