Bogor, West Java (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), accompanied by West Java Deputy Governor Uu Rizhanul Ulum and acting Bogor district head Iwan Setiawan, visited Cibinong Market in Bogor District to monitor bulk cooking oil prices on Tuesday.
According to Setiawan, despite bulk cooking oil selling in the market at a relatively affordable price of Rp14–15 thousand (US$0.9-1.02) per liter during the President's visit, the oil price is yet to stabilize.
"The President wants to reduce the bulk cooking oil price, and residents also want assurance on bulk cooking oil stocks. Though the cooking oil price is yet to stabilize, the current price is acceptable by residents," Setiawan said.
Besides monitoring the bulk cooking oil price, Widodo and Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini also handed out business assistance for MSMEs and cooking oil cash assistance for residents during the visit, he informed.
The acting district head said that the President advised assistance recipients against using the cash assistance for any other purpose but to advance their business.
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"I hear that the President said that the cash assistance for the poor must not be used to purchase phone credit or a new phone, but instead must be used for business capital -- that is his message to residents who received the financial assistance," Setiawan added.
He then lauded President Widodo’s willingness to visit public markets in Bogor district, including his earlier visit to Ciawi Market last April.
"Representing the Bogor district authority, I wish to express my gratitude to the President and cabinet ministers who continue visiting Bogor. (They have) focused their attention on the family benefits program and the disabled community, as well as the monitoring of basic commodities' prices, particularly cooking oil (in Bogor district)," the acting district head said.
After wrapping up the visit at Cibinong Market, the President and his entourage went to Gunung Batu Market in Bogor city.
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