The Deputy Minister Of Home Affairs Asks Local Governments To Be Alert To Increase Food Prices Ahead Of Christmas And New Year

Illustration of the 2022 Christmas and 2023 New Year holidays at a mall in Jakarta. (Between)

JAKARTA - Deputy Minister of Home Affairs (Wamendagri) Bima Arya Sugiarto appealed to local governments (Pemda) to be aware of the increase in food commodity prices ahead of the 2025 Christmas and New Year celebrations (Nataru).

Based on data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) as of December 2024, it is known that a number of commodities have increased prices. These commodities include shallots, garlic, red chilies, broiler eggs, and cooking oil.

"So, this is an increase in the number of regencies/cities in some of the commodities that were conveyed by Mrs. Plt. (Task Implementation) Head of BPS. We saw earlier as stated in several provinces that recorded a high number for IPH (Indedeks Price Development)," Bima said in his statement, Monday, December 23, quoted by Antara.

He revealed, ahead of religious holidays such as Christmas, there is usually an increase in demand for goods/services from the community which has an impact on price increases.

This condition needs to be anticipated by the local government by taking concrete steps. He detailed the steps, such as carrying out market operations, to holding low-cost food movements.

"This increase in public demand is what we must anticipate so that the stock is always there. So please continue with the efforts of the cheap food movement, market operations, and others," he added.

In addition, Bima appreciates the steps taken by the Surabaya City Government (Pemkot) in controlling inflation.

The city is known to have implemented a 4 K strategy in controlling inflation, namely Price Affordability, Supply Availability, Smooth Distribution, and Effective Communication. This strategy is implemented by involving related parties.

Bima hopes that this effort can be imitated by other regions. In addition, he also emphasized that the local government should take six concrete steps, including carrying out low-cost market operations, conducting inspections on markets and distributors, collaborating with commodity-producing areas, planting movements, realizing Unexpected Expenditures (BTT), and providing transportation support from the Regional Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBD).

According to data pocketed by the Ministry of Home Affairs as of December 23, 2024, so far only 40 local governments have carried out the six concrete steps.

Meanwhile, 158 local governments have taken four to five concrete steps, and 266 local governments have carried out one to three efforts to deal with inflation.

"In our notes, some have not done it at all, there are 50 local governments who have not made any concrete efforts in handling inflation. So please pay attention, ladies and gentlemen," concluded Bima.