Yogyakarta DPD Members Visit Bulog to Ensure Stocks Are Safe and Food Prices Stable Ahead of Lebaran
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, SLEMAN — Four members of the Regional Representative Council of the Indonesian Republic for the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DPD RI DIY) conducted monitoring of essential goods availability and price stability at the Bulog Purwomartani Warehouse Complex in Sleman, ahead of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr 1447 H. The visit was to ensure prices remain stable and do not burden the public, particularly vulnerable groups.
The delegation was led by DPD RI Deputy Speaker GKR Hemas, together with three other DPD RI DIY members, Hilmy Muhammad, Ahmad Syauqi Soeratno, and R.A. Yashinta Sekarwangi Mega.
GKR Hemas did not deny that increases in staple food prices ahead of Lebaran seem to repeat as a pattern each year. She emphasised, in her capacity as a regional representative, that they want to assist the DIY government so price volatility does not become higher than in other provinces. According to her, distribution to the low-income households must not be disrupted or experience price increases that burden them.
“We are both observing, supervising, and striving to ensure that staple prices are truly affordable for the people. So all of us, of course, will report to the central government what needs to be conveyed, I think this is important,” she said during the visit to the Bulog Purwomartani Warehouse in Sleman, on Wednesday (3 March 2026).
GKR Hemas also touched on the national distribution challenges, particularly in areas outside Java which incur high logistics costs. She hopes DIY can strengthen food self-sufficiency so that the needs of the community can be met from local production.
“This is what we are guarding. Because usually reports from across Indonesia, especially outside Java, with the capacity to distribute staple goods are also quite expensive,” she said.
“We hope Bulog will also be a mainstay for the people to provide the best for all residents in the Special Region of Yogyakarta,” said GKR Hemas.
Ensuring the State’s Involvement in Food Matters
Member of the DPD RI DIY, Hilmy Muhammad, explained that the visit forms part of a recess with cross-committee oversight of stocks and price stability of food. According to Hilmy, this oversight is important to ensure smooth distribution and that the public truly feels the state’s presence in maintaining food stability, including through possible market operations if needed.
They also want to know in detail how DIY’s food stock readiness stands, including data on average community needs and concrete steps if prices rise.
“We want to know how much stock is held, whether it is ready and sufficient. If prices rise, what is the intervention scheme from Bulog? Is a market operation necessary? This is important so that distribution runs and residents truly feel the state is present in matters of food,” he said.
Similarly, another DPD RI DIY member, Ahmad Syauqi Soeratno, highlighted the potential for seasonal inflation during Ramadan and Lebaran, which recurs every year. There are nine staple foods of particular concern, especially for vulnerable groups whose incomes are limited and heavily affected by price increases.
“The hope is that at least our visit to Bulog will ensure the affordability for our people, so they do not feel the shocks too much, especially in relation to staple prices in times like this,” said Syauqi.
He also highlighted the impact of conflicts and wars in the Middle East that have been warned to affect national food price stability, including in DIY.
According to Syauqi, global geopolitical situations cannot be ignored because they have cascading effects on the economy, from energy price rises to disruptions in food supply chains.
“We do not wish for it. But if events in the world, in other parts of the world, cause global spillovers, prices could be affected,” he said.
Syauqi added that the presence of the DPD RI DIY at Bulog is a moral obligation to help keep prices under control and prevent social unrest.
Meanwhile, Yashinta Sekarwangi Mega said that, based on field monitoring with TPID DIY some time ago, overall price stability in DIY remains under control. However, distribution oversight remains crucial to prevent price volatility due to seasonal demand spikes.
Yashinta also highlighted that the price of broiler chicken had briefly reached Rp 39,000–Rp 41,000 per kilogram, or above the Purchasing Price Reference (HAP) Rp 40,000 at the consumer level. In addition, the price of bird’s eye chilies remains high due to weather anomalies, and garlic is in the range of Rp 33,000–Rp 42,000 per kilogram because it relies on imports.
She urged the public to shop wisely and not engage in panic buying so that distribution remains evenly spread.
“I invite all segments of society in DIY to stay calm and adopt prudent shopping patterns by buying essential goods in line with actual consumption and not stockpiling. Let us prevent panic buying so that stock availability in markets remains evenly distributed for all residents, especially as prices begin to creep up,” she said.
Head of Bulog Kanwil DIY, Dedi Aprilyadi, confirmed that the Government Rice Reserve (CBP) stock in the Bulog DIY warehouse as of 1 March 2026 reached 48,115 tonnes. Total stocks in the Bulog DIY service area, including parts of Central Java, reached 137,000 tonnes.
“With an average requirement of around 1,000 tonnes per week, over four weeks that would be about 4,000 tonnes. That is very safe with the stock we control at present,” he said.
In addition to rice, he said stock of cooking oil amounts to more than 1.4 million litres and has been distributed through SP2KP, Rumah Pangan Kita (RPK), and village cooperatives. Prices are also said to still be below the Highest Retail Price (HET) Rp15,500 per litre.
Dedi emphasised that there have been no supply disruptions from producing regions. The availability of rice, sugar, cooking oil, and other essential goods is ensured to meet the needs of the people in DIY.