JAKARTA (January 22nd 2020) - The Directorate General of Poverty Handling (Ditjen PFM) held a Socialization for the 2020 Basic Food Program which was attended by the Indonesian Minister of Social Affairs (Mensos), Juliari P Batubara. At the opening, the Minister of Social Affairs said that the Non-Cash Food Assistance Program (BPNT) contributed to reducing the poverty rate. "The last BPS survey stated that there was a reduction in the poverty rate, from 9.41 percent to 9.22 percent. That is also the achievement of all of us who are present here, because on the resume it is written, among other things, thanks to the BPNT Program," said the Minister of Social Affairs opening the activity.

Delivered by the Minister of Social Affairs that the Basic Food Program is one of President Jokowi's campaign promises with a transaction system that still uses the Prosperous Family Card (KKS). "I say that currently there has been no replacement or change of cards, we still use the cards (KKS) that we are currently using," said the Minister of Social Affairs.

The Minister of Social Affairs also explained, the difference that exists between the BPNT Program and the current Basic Food Program is the increase in the index of assistance provided to beneficiary families (KPM) as well as additional choices of predetermined commodities. "The difference is that yesterday was Rp110,000 / KPM / month, now Rp150,000 / KPM / month, the difference of Rp. 40,000 in the new Social Minister regulation has been set to be allocated for the addition of other foodstuffs," explained the Minister of Social Affairs.

Previously, the Director General of Poverty Handling (Dirjen PFM), Andi ZA Dulung conveyed the results of a survey from Microsave conducted in 2018. In the survey it was stated that 96 percent of KPM and 89 percent of Electronic Mutual Cooperation (e-Warong) Warung said they were satisfied with the program. BPNT. "We are optimistic that this 2020 program together with all related agencies can increase recipient satisfaction again in the future, so that the government's efforts with the Staple Food Program to provide KPM access to other nutritional content can be achieved," said the Director General of Poverty Handling.

The Director General of Poverty Handling also conveyed a brief history of the food social assistance program, which was previously a Prosperous Rice Subsidy (Rastra) and began to be transformed into BPNT in 2017 in 44 cities. In 2018 the Rastra Subsidy program was completely transformed into a Food Social Assistance program which is channeled through a non-cash scheme and Bansos Rastra. At the end of 2019 the Food Social Assistance program in all districts / cities was implemented with a non-cash scheme or BPNT. Until 2020, the BPNT program which has been implemented in all regions of Indonesia has been developed into the Basic Food Program in order to strengthen social protection and increase the effectiveness of the food social assistance program.

The socialization activity for the Basic Food Program, which was attended by 1640 participants, aims to provide information about the transformation of the Non-Cash Food Assistance Program (BPNT) into the Basic Food Program in 2020, building understanding and taking the same steps to make the implementation of the distribution of the basic food program in 2020 a success, as well as realizing a joint commitment to carry out the distribution of the Basic Food Program with the 6T Principle (Right Target, Right Amount, Right Price, Right Time, Right Quality, and Right Administration).