In a statement cited here on Friday, the ministry's Deputy for Coordination of Food Trade and Distribution Tatang Yuliono highlighted that the operation took place at a Bulog Warehouse in Tangerang City, Banten, and was attended by Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan.
"This affordable food program is dedicated to the online taxi driver community in recognition of its strategic role in society," he stated.
Yuliono pointed out that, under the initiative, the government cooperated with two online taxi companies to provide drivers with packages of basic goods priced at Rp100 thousand (US$5.98), significantly lower than the normal price, which is estimated at Rp190 thousand (US$11.37).
He further explained that each package consisted of 5 kilograms of premium-grade rice, 1 kilogram of sugar, 1 kilogram of flour, and 1 liter of cooking oil.
According to him, the government plans to expand the outreach of the market operation to other regions, including Semarang in Central Java, to ensure equitable access to affordable food for the public.
Meanwhile, Bulog President Director Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani affirmed his side's commitment to supporting the government's affordable food initiative, fulfilling its core role in food distribution nationwide.
"This program reflects synergy fostered between Bulog, the Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs, and private partners and is particularly essential to ensure that food commodities remain affordable for citizens, including taxi drivers, ahead of the 2025 Christmas and 2026 New Year holidays," he said.
Ramdhani assured the public that Bulog will continue to implement initiatives aimed at stabilizing food prices and stocks beyond the year-end holidays.
"Bulog currently stores sufficient stocks of rice, and we can confirm that the prices of food commodities remain stable and in line with the government's standards," he stated.
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Translator: M. Harianto, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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