"The rice aid will be provided for 21.3 million families for three months," Bulog's President Director, Budi Waseso, stated at the launch of the food aid program in North Jakarta.
Bulog will disburse a total of 640,590 tons of rice, or some 213,530 tons per month, for the program in March, April, and May, Waseso stated.
According to Bulog's president director, the rice distribution would also reach the frontier, least developed, and outermost regions with appointed transporters: PT Pos Indonesia, PT JPLB, and PT DNR.
Head of the National Food Agency (NFA) Arief Prasetyo Adi stated that the assignment of food aid distribution in 2023 was entrusted to Bulog, as the agency had proven to be able and successful in implementing earlier government programs.
"The assignment of food aid (distribution) is expected to benefit the beneficiary families. In addition, distribution of the aid is also expected to control the impact of inflation to maintain food price stability at the producer and consumer levels," Adi remarked.
Related news: Rice aid will be disbursed soon, assures Bulog
State-run logistics enterprise PT Pos Indonesia (Persero) is ready to distribute rice social aid to 13 million beneficiary families in several regions in the country starting from April 5, 2023.
Courier and Logistics Business Director at PT Pos Indonesia (Persero) Siti Choriana stated that the company is entrusted with distributing rice from state-owned logistics firm Perum Bulog to 13 million families.
This rice aid is a follow-up from President Joko Widodo's instruction during a recent meeting with related ministers and institutional heads.
The president decided that the rice aid should be given before Eid al-Fitr up to three months in the future to maintain food stability and curb the spike in inflation.
Related news: Govt rice aid disbursal starting Mar 31: Bapanas
Related news: Pos Indonesia readies 10,000 vehicles to distribute food aid
Translator: Sinta Ambarwati, Sri Haryati
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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