Bulog Batam Prepares 1,586 Tonnes of Rice for Ramadan Food Aid
State logistics corporation Bulog’s Batam branch in the Riau Islands has prepared 1,586 tonnes of rice for food aid, together with cooking oil, for distribution to beneficiaries during Ramadan 1447 H.
Bulog Batam branch head Guido XL Pereira said the programme is a government mandate to Bulog, with recipient data sourced from the Ministry of Social Affairs through the National Socio-Economic Unified Database (DTSEN).
“Each recipient will receive a total of 20 kilogrammes of rice for two months’ allocation, along with 2 litres of cooking oil for the February–March allocation period,” Guido said when contacted in Batam on Friday.
He explained that distribution would commence in early March, with a monthly allocation of 10 kilogrammes of rice, meaning each food aid beneficiary (PBP) would receive a total of 20 kilogrammes.
Within Bulog Batam’s operational area, the number of registered beneficiaries stands at 79,301, comprising 59,066 recipients in Batam City and 20,235 in Karimun Regency.
“The total comes to approximately 1,586 tonnes of rice for two months’ allocation,” he said.
Beyond food aid, Bulog Batam has also guaranteed the adequacy of rice stocks in the Batam and Karimun areas during the national religious holiday period.
“Currently, medium-grade rice stock at the Batam warehouse stands at 2,763 tonnes and premium rice at 10 tonnes. Meanwhile, the Karimun warehouse holds 397 tonnes of medium-grade rice,” he said.
Based on these figures, Batam has sufficient rice supplies for six months and Karimun for more than one month.
To bolster reserves, Bulog Batam has arranged additional shipments currently in transit: 1,150 tonnes of medium-grade rice bound for Batam, 1,000 tonnes of premium rice for Batam, and 250 tonnes of premium rice for Karimun.
“Stocks are secure. We are ensuring that the community’s needs during Ramadan and religious holidays remain fully met,” he said.
Guido also noted that his team is conducting price inspections at traditional markets alongside the Riau Islands Provincial Task Force in Karimun Regency.
“We are checking warehouse stocks and also verifying whether any traders are selling rice above the maximum retail price (HET),” he said.