JAKARTA, TheIndonesiaPost – The condition of underprivileged communities as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak was devastated. The President asked the ranks of Ministers in “the Indonesian Cabinet to Forward” to be responsive and responsive to helping the community, especially in the field of Sembako stock availability and ensuring prices return to normal.
In addition, the President considers that the social safety net or social assistance will be an economic stimulus, especially for the lower classes of society in the capital, in the midst of handling Covid-19. In a speech officially announced by the presidential team, President Jokowi gave an example in DKI Jakarta that the Regional Government had mentioned that there were 3.6 million citizens who needed social safety nets.
“Please citizens to get social safety net coverage from the government. For example, DKI Jakarta Province has given 1.1 million people, meaning that there are only 2.5 million people (social safety nets) that we need to prepare immediately to be executed in the field,” said President.
Citizens who are included in the social safety net coverage are not driven by cultural factors, but are influenced by reduced sources of income, especially for informal workers. “Those affected are in the midst of an emergency response policy due to the Covid-19 pandemic. For this reason, the social safety net is a crucial thing that must be resolved immediately. If the social safety net has been met, then the next anticipation by limiting the movement of people and maintaining a safe distance between people will be more disciplined. This is according to the health protocol and I think it will have a big influence on the handling of Covid-19, “he said.
Related to the supervision and control that must be carried out at the regional level, especially at the urban village level, continued Jokowi, carried out through monitoring and reports to see the movement and awareness of citizens at that level to participate in efforts to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in their area.
“In fact, we are trying to calm the community by finding a replacement time for national holidays. Moreover, facing the holy month of Ramadan for Muslims, we prepare to prevent the spread of the Corona virus and maintain the stability of basic food prices, including ensuring the availability of basic food stocks in the country,” he said.
For this reason, the President has instructed his ministers to check the availability of basic food in the field. “I have also checked with national logistic supply organization. I checked with other regions regarding harvesting. I saw rice, meat, eggs, sugar, flour and others. Alhamdulillah, all are still in good condition. This must be monitored regularly and ensure its availability is sufficient, “said the President.
He also instructed to check the affordability of prices on the market, especially while staples of basic food items. The president instructed the Minister of Agriculture, the Minister of Trade, and the Minister of the Interior, to ensure that a number of agricultural commodities in the market return to normal. The policy was carried out because it saw an increase in prices during the Covid-19 season plague the past month.
“The Minister of Agriculture has submitted a report that within the next week, maybe the price (sugar) will go down to the normal position again at Rp12,500. Likewise, the Minister of Trade said that we expect the price of garlic to return to normal at Rp. 20,000 to Rp. 30,000, “explained the President.
Regarding the distribution of basic food items and foodstuffs to the regions, the President continued, he had been instructed by the Minister of Home Affairs to ensure logistics distribution to the regions was not hampered due to the closure of access in a number of areas.
“If the logistics distribution is disrupted, the (Regional Head) must be reprimanded. Yesterday, I got a report from two regions, the rice business was rather disturbed because the roads were closed. I remind the Minister of Home Affairs, so that regions that block access to logistics distribution are reprimanded. The goal is for logistics distribution to run smoothly and arrive in the regions, “said the President firmly. (Rahmad/ray/bbs).
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