Since 2021, MoSA was No Longer Provide Basic Food Program in the Form of Goods

JAKARTA (December 4, 2023) - Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini emphasized that the Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA) is no longer provide social assistance for the Basic Food Program in the form of goods since 2021. "All assistance is provided in the form of cash and transferred through the accounts of Beneficiary Families (KPM)," said the Minister in a press conference related to MoSA Budget 2024 held at MoSA Office, Jakarta, Monday (4/12/2023).

In the press conference, the Minister explained that MoSA budget for social protection program for next year amounted to IDR 78.05 trillion or 98.54 percent of the entire MoSA 2024 budget.

Answering questions related to challenges and improvements to the Basic Food Program, according to the Minister, the Basic Food Program has been given through the KPM account since 2021. This is possible because it has been clearly regulated in Presidential Regulation Number 63 of 2017 which states that the mechanism for distributing non-cash social assistance, includes withdrawing money using funds from the accounts of social assistance recipients. "In this way, Sembako Program social assistance can be spent according to the food needs of KPM," said the Minister.

This is confirmed by the monitoring report of the second phase of the fuel price increase compensation program conducted by the National Team for the Acceleration of Poverty Reduction (TNP2K) together with the Vice President's Secretariat in January 2023, that more than 95% of KPM still use BLT BBM to meet food needs.

According to the Minister, the distribution of assistance in the form of food also has a risk of damage due to weather, packaging, or other external factors. "The food procurement process is very long and when in the field, many goods are found that do not meet the needs," said Risma, revealing the reason for Sembako Program social assistance no longer in the form of goods.

The second factor is to make it easier to check the status and position of Sembako Program social assistance. Social assistance in the form of money will be easily known whether it is still in the bank or channeling post, in the transaction process, or has been received by the beneficiary. This will help the accountability of the Ministry of Social Affairs in terms of budget use.

Withdrawing money from accounts in Sembako Program is done to overcome many findings/complaints related to food packaging, unreasonable food prices, remaining balances that cannot be taken, the distance that KPM must travel, and the continuity of services from food providers, as well as overcoming excessive quantities of food when there is thickening/acceleration.

"We hope that this effort can provide more benefits for KPM of the Basic Food Program," concluded the Minister.

Public Relations Bureau
Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs