President Widodo also witnessed the distribution of the aid — which took place around 4:30 p.m. local time — for about 10 minutes.
"This afternoon, Mr. President asked the Presidential Secretariat to provide staple assistance totaling approximately one thousand packages," head of the Presidential Secretariat, Heru Budi Hartono, said after accompanying President Widodo to review the distribution of the aid.
The President, dressed in a white shirt and black pants, waved to the beneficiaries while speaking with Hartono and other officials.
One of the aid recipients was an online motorcycle taxi (ojol) driver, named Riyanto Wibisono. He said that he received five kilograms of rice, cooking oil, biscuits, and tea bags, which were packed in a white bag.
"I know it from my fellow ojol colleagues at Gambir Station. There was information that the Palace would distribute staple packages for ojol before 4 o'clock this afternoon," he added.
After learning about the aid distribution, he rushed to Medan Merdeka Utara Boulevard and stood in line for more than 30 minutes until the Presidential Security Force (Paspampres) started the activity at 4:30 p.m. local time.
Wibisono and other ojol drivers lined up next to five tables set up on the roadside with the assistance.
The beneficiaries who received the assistance slipped one of their fingers into the ink bottle as a sign of their participation.
In addition to ojol drivers, Jakarta Public Infrastructure and Facilities Management (PPSU) personnel who happened to be working around Merdeka Palace also received the assistance.
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Translator: Andi F, Kenzu
Editor: Arie Novarina
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