TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Monday personally monitored the COVID-19 social aid distribution at North Jakarta’s Johar Baru area alongside Social Affairs Minister Juliari Batubara.

“I wanted to make sure about the staple foodstuff distribution, especially in the Greater Jakarta Area (Jabodetabek),” said the president at the location of the government aid distribution site.

This was not the first time the president appeared in the country’s social aid distributions as last week Jokowi also oversaw the distribution of cash aid or BLT at a post office in one of Jakarta’s satellite cities of Bogor.

During his presence at Johar Baru, the president said that he wanted to make sure that the government aid directly and is swiftly received by the people who truly need them.

“Surely we hope that it can be commenced more quickly and smoothly in the future,” said Jokowi.

Previously reported, President Jokowi highlighted the sluggish distribution of the BLT and other government cash aid that has only been 40 percent distributed. He had also ordered state ministers to accelerate the distribution amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

EGI ADYATAMA