The distribution of food aid by Bapanas is not a part of social protection. It is meant to strengthen food security and food price stability.Jakarta (ANTARA) - The distribution of food aid through the National Food Agency (Bapanas) is not a part of social protection, rather it is aimed at strengthening food resilience and food price stability, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said.
"The distribution of food aid by Bapanas is not a part of social protection. It is meant to strengthen food security and food price stability," the minister told the Constitutional Court judges during the follow-up hearing on the 2024 Presidential Election results dispute (PHPU) on Friday.
According to her, the food assistance provided by Bapanas is included in the economic function of the state budget (APBN), rather than the social security function.
In 2023, Bapanas was allocated a budget of Rp10.12 trillion to distribute food assistance in the form of 10 kilograms of rice per family every three months to 21.53 million beneficiary families, with absorption during September–November 2023 reaching 100 percent, she informed.
"In the assistance distribution, a review from the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP) is needed to ensure accountability," she added.
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She then said that Bapanas was established to support the implementation of the government's duties in the food sector, especially to realize focused and effective food governance, food sovereignty and security, as well as national food independence.
"In carrying out its functions, Bapanas handles food insecurity, including through procurement, management, and distribution of food aid to low-income communities and those affected by disasters," she informed.
On Friday, the MK summoned three other ministers from the Indonesia Onward Cabinet besides Indrawati, namely Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Muhadjir Effendy; Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto; and Minister of Social Affairs, Tri Rismaharini.
The four ministers were summoned to testify at the follow-up hearing on the 2024 Presidential Election dispute case filed by the legal teams of presidential-vice presidential pairs Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar and Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud Md.
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Translator: Fath Putra M, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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