Makassar (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) disbursed rice assistance sourced from the government's reserves to one thousand beneficiaries during a working visit to Maros district, South Sulawesi, on Thursday.

While greeting the beneficiaries at the warehouse of state-owned logistics agency Bulog in the district on Thursday, the President said that they will receive the 10-kilogram rice assistance every month in the first half of this year.

"You have received it in January and February. You will receive it again in March, April, May, and June," Widodo added.

However, the government will evaluate the state budget's capacity before deciding on continuing the aid's distribution from July onwards, he said.

He also asked beneficiaries about direct cash assistance (BLT). Some said they had received the assistance, while others had not.

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"Some of you may get the BLT while others not because (the assistance) is not for everyone, and the next Rp200 thousand BLT will be disbursed three more times," he informed.

He said that the cash assistance is being disbursed to 22 million recipients, some of whom also qualify for the food assistance.

Widodo was accompanied by State-Owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir, Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono, and Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi during his visit to the Bulog warehouse.

Bulog president director Bayu Krisnamurthi, South Sulawesi acting governor Bahtiar Baharuddin, and Maros district head Andi Syafril Chaidir Syam also accompanied the President.

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Translator: M Darwin Fatir, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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