Jokowi Says Rice Social Assistance Until The End Of The Year Depends On The Availability Of The State Budget

President Jokowi when providing social assistance (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said the food assistance program in the form of rice for the distribution period from July to December 2024, depended on the availability of the State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBN).

This statement was made by President Jokowi during a dialogue with the beneficiary community on the sidelines of his visit to the Bulog Manggis Warehouse Complex, Bungo Regency, Jambi Province, Thursday, April 4.

"Later we will look again at the state budget, if the budget allows it to be continued until December. But no promises, yes because I will open the state budget first in June, if it is opened, the budget may be continued, but if it is not possible, it is not possible. I will say what it is, you know," Jokowi said in his statement through the Presidential Secretariat in Jakarta.

President Jokowi also said that the provision of food assistance in the form of rice is a form of the government's commitment to the welfare of the people, so it is necessary to continue.

"This is the fourth, it will be continued to the following month until June," he said.

One of the beneficiaries, Khoirul Anwar, said that rice food assistance really helps people with a weak economy when facing an increase in rice prices.

"Yes, it's very helpful, because now the rice price position is soaring, right, so this is quite helpful for us. This is the fourth time, thank God it really is very helpful," he said.

Another resident, Asmirawati, hopes that the assistance provided can continue.

"Hopefully, Pak Jokowi will ask the people who will come for his help, it will not be finished, we will continue to get help," he said.

Rice food assistance is a government program in the form of rice distribution sourced from the Government Rice Reserve (CBP) stock managed by Bulog.

This program is one of the utilization of CBP in accordance with the mandate of Presidential Regulation Number 125 of 2022 concerning Management of Government Food Reserves.

The amount of rice food assistance is 10 kilograms per family per month.

As is known, this rice food aid has been implemented since early 2023 in two stages and continues this year which will run from January to March and can be extended from April to June, provided that the APBN is still possible.

Also accompanying the President in this review were Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Head of the National Food Agency Arief Prasetyo Adi, Governor of Jambi Al Haris, and Regent of Bungo Mashuri.