We have asked that the assistance should be distributed as soon as possible.
Semarang, C Java (ANTARA) - Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo has appealed to the recipients of cooking oil cash assistance (BLT) to use it for the intended purpose.

"Use it as well as possible according to the determined designation. Do not use it to buy credits or cigarettes," he emphasized while reviewing the distribution of the cooking oil BLT in Metuk village, Mojosongo sub-district, Boyolali district, on Friday.

He conducted the inspection to ensure that the people who receive the assistance truly understand the purpose of the allocation of the BLT.

"The people had understood regarding the designation of the aid. They knew that they should get Rp500 thousand (US$34.65) and they should use it to buy cooking oil and rice,” he noted.

Some of them also complained about the high price of cooking oil, the governor added.

The price of the commodity in the market is still high, hence it is difficult for the people to get cheap bulk cooking oil, he said.

"Eventually, they had to buy packaged cooking oil, which is not subsidized by the government. The average price of the product is Rp25 thousand (US$1.73) per liter,” he added.

Thus, he said he expected that the assistance would help the community to purchase the commodity.

Pranowo informed that the distribution of cooking oil BLT in the province has begun, hence his administration is continuing to monitor its distribution, which is being conducted by state-run postal service provider PT Pos Indonesia.

“We have asked that the assistance should be distributed as soon as possible. I will also review the disbursal of the aid in other regions later,” he said.

On the same occasion, he asked one of the residents about the amount and purpose of the assistance.

"I get Rp500 thousand BLT, sir. Some Rp300 thousand (US$20.79) is used to buy the cooking oil, while the rest is utilized to purchase basic necessities," one of the recipients, Narti, answered.
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Translator: Wisnu Nugroho, Uyu Liman
Editor: Suharto
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