JAKARTA (April 13, 2020) - Social pillars are at the forefront of the Ministry of Social Affairs' efforts to handle the COVID-19 pandemic. Ministry of Social Affairs Juliari P. Batubara appreciated their hard work and dedication in various corners of the country.

On the occasion of speaking with social pillars via video teleconference, the Ministry of Social Affairs recently conveyed many messages including for them to be disciplined in implementing health protocols.

In response to this, today the Director General of Social Empowerment, Edi Suharto, provided the social pillars with various health kits, namely 4,637 packages of masks, hand sanitizers, and vitamin C. With health equipment, it is hoped that they will support and optimize their tasks, especially in accelerating the handling of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Assistance was given to Potential Social Welfare Resources (PSKS), District Social Welfare Workers (TKSK), the Integrated Referral Service System (SLRT), the Social Welfare Center (Puskesos), Community Social Workers (PSM), Professional Companion for Remote Indigenous Communities (KAT), and Warakawuri, Independence Pioneers, and Independence Pioneer Widows.

"We have prepared a package of medical equipment for the social pillars, which of course will be a provision for them in carrying out their duties. They actively participate in preventing the spread of COVID-19," said Edi Suharto at the Kalibata Main National Heroes Cemetery Convention Building (TMPNU), Jakarta (April 13, 2020).

The aid packages were symbolically given at the TMPNU Kalibata Convention Building, and the remainder will be distributed through the provincial, regency, and city social offices, which are spread across 32 provinces. This is our appreciation, support, and gratitude, especially to the social pillars that have helped prevent the spread of COVID-19. "Because on the front lines, they are indeed vulnerable in their duties," said Edi.

In addition, in terms of social empowerment, the Ministry of Social Affairs is also preparing to provide social entrepreneurship venture capital assistance to KPM and PKH graduates. The Ministry of Social Affairs intends to distribute social entrepreneurship business capital assistance to 10,000 graduation PKH KPM who have business startups in the near future, as well as assistance in the form of a sustainability grant of IDR 500,000 per KPM.

Ministry of Social Affairs' external human resources actively participate in preventing the spread of COVID-19, for example, through outreach related to COVID-19, spraying disinfectants, providing education on clean and healthy living, and continuing to provide services to the community according to the implementation protocol during the COVID-19 emergency response.

On that occasion, Edi, accompanied by the Secretary to the Directorate General of Social Empowerment, Bambang Sugeng, the Director of PSPKKM, Bambang Mulyadi, and the Director of K2KRS, Joko Irianto, reviewed the preparation of the room in the Convention Building (the Glass Room), which will serve as the Command Center for the Jabodetabek Basic Food Social Assistance program, which will start April 20, 2020.

The Director General of Social Resources also checked the locations of the Food Assistance Posts and the Ministry of Social Public Kitchens during the COVID-19 emergency response period, which were also located at TMPNU Kalibata.

Since April 7, the TMPNU Kalibata Convention Building, which is usually used for activities related to Heroes' Day, has temporarily shifted its function to become a post for the distribution of basic food packages and ready-to-eat food for residents affected by COVID-19.

The services at the relief post include:

1. Joint Secretariat whose function is to record requests for assistance and record aid distribution;
2. Health Service Post for public kitchen workers who function to check the health of officers working at aid posts;
3. Public Kitchen that serves to cook ready-to-eat food;
4. Media Center which functions as a standby place for media that covers;
5. TAGANA Cafeteria Cares about the Impact of COVID-19 which provides free drinks.

The post is open from April 7 to April 19, 2020, with operating hours from 03.00 p.m in the early morning until 05.00 p.m. The distribution of aid began at 9.00 a.m and continued until it was completed through the Social Office.

The officers of the Public Kitchen Post totaled 165 people from the Tagana DKI Jakarta element, who were in charge of cooking and wrapping ready-to-eat food in the form of boxed rice.

Public Relations Bureau

Ministry of Social Affairs