Bulog Offers Apology for Bad Quality Rice Assistance

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Director of the State Logistics Agency (Bulog), Budi Waseso or Buwas, offered a sincere apology to residents who received rice packages as part of the government’s Covid-19 social assistance in bad quality. He ensured that the agency had no intention of disappointing the public.

“If there are residents who have received rice from Bulog in inappropriate conditions, we sincerely apologize. We are working to help the people without other interests. Period," said Buwas in his statement, Monday, August 9.

A number of residents reported that they received rice with an unpleasant smell and rough textures. Buwas asserted that the field team had made a quick response by withdrawing the low-quality rice and replacing them with the new good ones.

Buwas said the agency was striving to provide the best quality and service. The agency also coordinated with the Social Affairs Ministry, state-owned delivery service PT Pos Indonesia, local governments, and the police and military personnel, as well as the Food Task Force, to supervise the aid distribution.

Bulog was assigned by the government to help distribute additional rice assistance during the Emergency PPKM and Level 4 PPKM. For the first phase, the rice aid was given to 20 million beneficiary families or KPM.

Read: Bulog Allocates 200,000 tons of Rice for Cash Assistance Program

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA