Deputy II of KSP Abetnego Tarigan, in a press release here on Thursday, stated that on the basis of on-field facts, several people still have to purchase bulk cooking oil above the retail price ceiling (HET) that the government had regulated, which is Rp14 thousand per liter.
“The bulk cooking oil subsidy policy is expected to reduce the price according to the HET gradually. Yet, there are people, who still have to buy above the HET. Hence, the cash assistance is given, so that the poor can afford to buy bulk cooking oil,” he explained.
The cooking oil cash assistance worth Rp100 thousand is provided to each beneficiary family for April, May, and June 2022, though paid all at once, specifically Rp300 thousand, in April 2022.
The program is targeting as many as 23 million recipients comprising 20.5 million beneficiaries recorded as recipients of the non-cash food assistance (BPNT) and the Family Hope Program (PKH), as well as 2.5 million street vendors.
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Tarigan stated that the assistance distribution would be conducted through PT Pos Indonesia. The data of the recipients will refer to the integrated social welfare data (DTKS) owned by the Ministry of Social Affairs that has been verified and synchronized with the population data (NIK).
"Hence, this is to prevent duplicate and fictitious data," he added.
He further explained that apart from the cooking oil cash assistance, the government will also provide wage subsidy assistance (BSU) in 2022, targeting workers whose salaries are below Rp3.5 million. The aid is targeted to be given to 8.8 million beneficiaries.
Moreover, the government is preparing a mechanism for the distribution of Presidential Assistance for MSME players (Banpres UMKM) of Rp600 thousand for each beneficiary.
"These are forms of support from the government to ease the burden on people affected by the increase in the price of various commodities due to the (price) surge in the international market," he remarked.
He emphasized that the KSP will directly supervise the implementation of those social assistance programs.
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Translator: Indra Arief, Raka Adji
Editor: Suharto
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