President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) visited Peterongan Market in Semarang, Central Java, on Tuesday to distribute social aid packages and review the prices of food commodities.
According to a statement received here on Tuesday, the President, accompanied by First Lady Iriana, arrived at the market at 12:30 p.m. local time (UTC +7). They received a warm welcome from the residents.
While distributing the Rp1.2-million (US$80.4) social assistance to benefit recipients, the President said that the benefit must be used only as extra business capital and not for other purposes.
“Do not (use the funds to) buy a phone or phone credit. (The money) must be used for extra business capital. You can instead use the Rp300 thousand benefit to buying cooking oil or basic food,” Widodo added.
The President and the First Lady then conversed with benefit recipients and market merchants.
A resident with a disability, Joko, expressed gratitude for the social assistance and hoped the money would boost his food business.
“My business selling mayonnaise-filled rissole, fruit salad, peanut, and fried shallot. I hope with the benefit, my business will develop further because I want to prove that the disabled can also develop themselves,” Joko remarked.
Besides presenting social benefits, the President and the First Lady also reviewed stocks and prices of food commodities sold in the market, such as red chili, cooking oil, and rice.
A market merchant, Amin, told the President that the prices of some basic food commodities have returned to normal.
“It has been one week that the price of rice is Rp10 thousand (US$0.67) per kilogram, while the price of chili remains expensive at Rp80 thousand (US$5.36),” Amin said.
Responding to Amin’s statement, the President expressed the hope that food prices will become more stable in the following days.
“It is good, we hope the price will be more affordable soon. The price has been stabilized,” the President said.
Minister of State Secretary, Pratikno; Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo; and head of Peterongan Market, Supana, accompanied Widodo and his wife to the market.
Source: Antara News