TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo or Jokowi inspected the availability of the government rice reserve at Batangase Maros Bulog Warehouse and delivered social assistance yesterday.

Jokowi explained that the El Nino phenomenon that hit globally caused a decline in food production, while public consumption hiked. Meaning, a price hike for food materials, including rice, is inevitable.

“Do you know why you’re receiving rice aid? It’s because the price has increased all around the world, caused by El Nino,” Jokowi said on Thursday in Maros, South Sulawesi.

Despite the rising prices, however, the Indonesian government is committed to providing social assistance to beneficiary households, according to Jokowi.

The President ensured that the beneficiary households would receive 10 kilograms of social assistance (rice aid) per month from January to June 2024. As of July 2024, the disbursement of social assistance would depend on the results of the State Budget performance.

"After June, I'll look at the State Budget first. But I'm not making any promises, you know," said Jokowi.

He also asked whether the temporary unconditional cash assistance (BLT) had been received. Residents answered that it had been received and some answered that it had not.

"Some people accept BLT, some don't, because not all of them [are the targets],” said Jokowi, while claiming that the government provided BLT to 22 million recipients.

ANTARA

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