Truck Drivers' Rally Leads to Hike in Rice Price in Cipinang Market

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The rally staged by truck drivers in a number of regions disrupted logistics traffic. Deputy Chair of the Indonesian Rice Millers and Entrepreneurs Association (Perpadi), Billy Haryanto, complained that the protest resulted in the hike in rice price by Rp200-300 per kilogram in Cipinang Central Market, Jakarta.

“Prices have gone up because of less supply. If the supply is empty again [tomorrow, the price] will rise again,” said Billy to Tempo on Wednesday, February 23.

Drivers in East Java, Central Java, and West Java took to the streets protesting the Ministry of Transportation's regulation on overweight or overloaded and over-dimension (ODOL) trucks. The ministry planned to implement a zero ODOL policy starting January 1, 2023.

Drivers objected to the plan and asked the ministry to review the rules for banning ODOL trucks as it is detrimental to transportation companies. Besides, the policy did not provide solutions.

Since the demonstration took place, Billy said the rice supply to the Cipinang Central Market dropped by more than half per day. Normally, the supply from various provinces reached 2,000-2,500 tons, now the incoming stock was only 1,000 tons.

Billy further asked the government to seriously seek a solution to the truck driver’s demonstrations and review the ODOL policy. He expressed worries that the condition would cause an impact on the increase in the price of basic commodities as happened to soybean and cooking oil.

Read: Statistics Indonesia: Rice Production Grows Albeit Harvest Areas Decline

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA