JAKARTA (September 2nd, 2020) - Launching of Cash Social Assistance which worth Rp. 500.000,- for 9 million beneficiary families (KPM) of non-PKH program was carried out on Monday (31/8), Ministry of Social Affairs continous to launch assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to reduce the burden of KPM PKH expenditures by fulfilling food needs, Rice Social Assistance was launched today by Minister of Social Affairs. This assistance is targeting 10 million PKH beneficiaries and it is a part of Social Safety Net (JPS) program in dealing with the impact of COVID-19.

Launching of Rice Social Assistance was held at BULOG Regional Offices of DKI Jakarta and Banten which located in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta. Rice Social Assistance worth 15 kg / month for KPM PKH that will be given for 3 months. This assistance is the result of collaboration between Ministry of Social Affairs and the Logistic Affairs Agency (BULOG).

Minister of Social Affairs explained that Rice Social Assistance will help to recover the economic sector in the community. This is one of the ways to fulfil daily needs and to increase the ability to absorb rice from farmers. This indicates that Rice Social Assistance program will provide a market for farmers to sell their rice.

"This assistance program is included in the National Economic Recovery (PEN) program with a total budget of around 5.1 trillion. Therefore, this program is vital in absorbing the budget. With this program, BULOG can be even more optimal in absorbing the harvest from farmers," said Minister of Social Affairs.

Furthermore, Minister of Social Affairs also conveyed that the distribution of 1st Phase assistance will begin in September, and 2nd Phase is in October. The data used is data by name by address which is clear and clean because it is taken from participant data of an ongoing program, Family Hope Program (PKH).

"The distribution of 1st Phase of Rica Social Assistance will begin in September, for allocations in August and September. So that in this first distribution each KPM will receive 30 kg of medium quality rice. Then in October, each KPM PKH receives 15kg of rice,” said Minister of Social Affairs.

In the distribution process, Ministry of Social Affairs collaborates with Perum BULOG for the availability of medium quality rice. Then, the rice will be distributed by the transporter door to door to KPM PKH. The transporters for this program are PT. Bhanda Ghara Reksa (BGR) and PT. Dos Ni Roha (DNR). BULOG stated that it is ready to assist the implementation of Rice Social Assistance. This was conveyed by the President Director of BULOG Budi Waseso.

"We are ready to carry out the Rice Social Assistance program from the Ministry of Social Affairs. If there is a fraud happens in the field, then I will remove their positions. We, BULOG really appreciate this rice assistance. So that BULOG can absorb the harvest from farmers," said Budi Waseso.

Minister of Social Affairs hopes that the delivery of Rice Social Assistance can run quickly and smoothly. This is done by dividing the target into 2 distribution areas. Each transporter is responsible for 1 distribution area. Minister of Social Affairs also added that Rice Social Assistance program is a form of synergy between Ministries / Agencies in tackling COVID-19 and as a form that the government is present. Minister of Social Affairs also advised to always maintain consistency of rice quality and accuracy to make this program successful.

In the launching event, Minister of Social Affairs witnessed the symbolic handover by the Director General of Social Empowerment Edi Suharto and the President Director of BULOG to representatives of KPM PKH, which was also witnessed by the Deputy of Coordination of Social Welfare Improvement at the Coordinating Ministry for PMK. After the symbolic event, the Minister of Social Affairs released a truck carrying the Rice Social Assistance to be distributed to KPM PKH. The Minister of Social Affairs also advised to be able to jointly supervise the distribution of this assistance.

Secretary General of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Inspector General, Director General of Social Rehabilitation, Special Staff of the Minister of Social Affairs, Expert Staff of the Minister of Social Affairs, Secretary of the Directorate General of PFM, Secretary of the Directorate General of Social Security, Secretary of the Directorate General of Social Empowerment, Director of PKAT, Director of PSDBS, Head of Planning Bureau , President Director of PT. Bhanda Ghara Reksa (BGR), and the President Director of PT. Dos Ni Roha (DNR) were also attending the launching of the Rice Social Assistance.