Bulog DKI-Banten prepares strategic steps to safeguard food prices
The Jakarta and Banten regional office of the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) is preparing several strategic steps to anticipate indications of rising food prices in the market. These efforts are being carried out through the distribution of SPHP rice and premium rice, the acceleration of food aid delivery, and the distribution of MinyaKita cooking oil to maintain supply availability and price affordability for the public.
“These strategic steps are taken to provide peace of mind to the community regarding the adequacy of basic food needs and the impact of indications of price increases in the market,” said Taufan Akib, Head of Bulog’s Jakarta and Banten Regional Office, in Jakarta on Sunday.
He revealed that Bulog’s strategic actions include distributing medium and premium rice to partner stores, accelerating food aid distribution, and distributing MinyaKita. Bulog distributes medium-grade rice through the Food Supply and Price Stabilisation (SPHP) programme. The distribution channels are focused on partner stores, such as cooperatives, ‘Rumah Pangan Kita’ outlets, government agency outlets, market retailers, and modern retail chains.
Currently, there are 3_75 partner distribution points spread across the provinces of Jakarta and Banten, including channels used for the Cheap Market Movement (GPM). Bulog Jakarta and Banten are also distributing premium-quality rice. The distribution of premium rice was carried out extensively alongside the Cheap Food Movement held at the Kalisari Sports Hall, East Jakarta, on Saturday.
“Today, we are distributing SPHP rice and premium rice to partner stores in Kramat Jati Market and Senen Market,” he said.
He added that the simultaneous and optimised distribution of Food Aid (Banpang) across several sub-districts is ongoing. He noted that the target for Food Aid distribution in the Jakarta and Banten regions is expected to be completed by the second or third week of June, serving as a specific strategy to suppress potential price hikes. Bulog recorded that as of Saturday, 6 June, the realisation of Food Aid distribution in the Jakarta and Banten working areas had reached 78.66 per cent.
“It has been distributed to 1,592,420 food aid recipients (PBP) out of a target of 2,024,376 PBP,” he added. According to him, the high realisation of Food Aid distribution serves as a positive stimulus for market price stabilisation. He explained that each recipient will receive 20 kilograms of rice and 4 litres of cooking oil across two distribution allocations. This is expected to impact the sufficiency of household consumption needs for recipients, which can dampen the rise in market demand.
Furthermore, the distribution of MinyaKita continues to be carried out in markets within the Market and Basic Needs Monitoring System (SP2KP) network and partner stores in non-SP2KP traditional markets. The agency hopes that the distribution of MinyaKita can balance stock availability in the market, thereby guaranteeing affordability and supply for the public. “These steps are necessary to ensure that the community’s food needs, particularly rice and oil, are safe and available in sufficient quantities at affordable prices in accordance with government regulations,” he concluded.