Basic Food Assistance of MoSA Lighten the Economic Burden of Citizens

CIPUTAT (April 15, 2020) - The Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA) through the Directorate General of Social Protection and Security gradually continues to distribute basic food assistance to the affected communities of COVID-19. By continuing to focus on the distribution of assistance to DKI Jakarta, the MoSA paid attention to other points in the buffer zone of the Capital City which became the red zone.

Today, the MoSA distributes basic food assistance to Jombang Village, Ciputat District, South Tangerang City (Tangsel). This area is the target of assistance distribution because Jombang Village, Ciputat District, is the area with the highest statistics in South Tangerang.

In addition, economically it is also the most affected area. "Therefore, we are very grateful for the help from the Ministry of Social Affairs. This assistance is very meaningful for our residents. Because in addition to this region the number of sufferers is quite high, also the economic impact is quite severe, "said Ciputat Head of Subdistrict Andi Patabai, after receiving assistance, in Ciputat, Wednesday (15/04/2020).

Andi said that the COVID-19 pandemic had an economic impact on local residents, from street vendors who stopped selling, workers who did not work, to employees who were laid off. From seven village in Ciputat, Jombang is the most affected, and is also the area with the largest population consisting of 110 RT.

Andi made sure, the basic food assistance distribution under the Directorate of Social Protection for Natural Disasters Victims (PSKBA) would be very meaningful for its citizens.

"This assistance helps ease the burden on the community. Thank you to the Ministry of Social Affairs, "he said. Today the Ministry of Social Affairs provides 2,000 food packages and 2,000 servings of fast food. The assistance from the Directorate General of Social Security was handed over by the Dharma Wanita Advisor of the Ministry of Social Affairs Grace P. Batubara who also represented the Onward Indonesian Cabinet Era Solidarity Action Organization.

Grace stated, this assistance was given showing that the country was present in the midst of disaster. This is also in line with the #KemensosHADIR tagline. "We are present in the community, especially when our nation is experiencing a COVID-19 pandemic," he said.

The Basic Food Assistance is intended for informal workers affected by COVID-19, especially in DKI Jakarta because of its highly affected status and being a red zone.

"Even so, it is possible for us to widen out of DKI Jakarta as it is currently in Jombang, South Tangerang where we get information from friends who are looking for data, especially vulnerable and affected people," he said.

The basic food assistance is managed by PSKBA by activating the Public Kitchen that occupies the Social Assistance Post at the Main National Heroes Cemetery (TMPNU), Kalibata, Jakarta. This public kitchen, which is supported by 150 personnel of the Disaster Preparedness Cadets (Tagana), produces 6000 servings of ready-to-eat food and distributes 6000 food packages.

The post, which began operating on April 7, will distribute 300,000 packages of basic food assistance to the public.

In accordance with Presidential Decree Number 9 of 2020 dated March 10, 2020 concerning Amendment to Presidential Decree Number 7 of 2020 concerning Task Force for the Acceleration of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Ministry of Social Affairs plays the role of implementing member of the elements in the assigned task force.

Therefore, this special assistance in the form of basic food packages for the citizens of DKI Jakarta is one of the implementations of the above provisions, as part of the Ministry of Social support for the operational plan to accelerate the handling of COVID-19, which is determined by the Task Force for the Acceleration of Handling COVID-19.

Bureau of Public Relations

Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs