Jakarta Legislative Council (DPRD)'s Commission B, opened a working meeting along with Jakarta Maritime, Agriculture and Food Security (KPKP) Agency, regional-owned enterprise (BUMD in food sector, Food Station Tjipinang Jaya, Perumda Dharma Jaya and Perumda Pasar Jaya, on Thursday (1/6).

In this case, we need to evaluate and take steps to be taken by SKPD and BUMD related to this food

Commission B Chief, Abdul Azis expressed, the meeting discussed efforts to support price stability for a number of necessities after Christmas and New Year's which experienced an increase such as chili, chicken eggs and cooking oil while ensuring the availability of food stocks in Jakarta.

"We collect public aspirations regarding the instability of food prices after the Christmas and New Year holidays. In this case, we need to evaluate and take steps to be taken by SKPD and BUMD related to this food," he expressed, at City Council building.

According to him, concrete steps were needed, such as direct checks on the ground to decide what steps or measures needed to be taken to address this problem.

"In three months, we will enter Ramadan and then Eid ul-Fitr, for sure the price of this food will increase again. Don't let this price volatility be played by big players. This is what we have to take care of. The point is we support food price stability," he stated.

KPKP Agency Head, Suharini Eliawati said, council members' input would be an evaluation of his side with BUMD to anticipate an increase in food prices. His party would also collaborate with the central government, associations or other food communities to ensure food conditions can be met.

"Price hike on food, such as chili is because of rainy season that triggers harvesting and maintenance costs increase. Then cooking oil is caused by rising international Crude Palm Oil (CPO) prices. To overcome it, we provide cooking oil sizes in small and liter packages according to the needs of the community," he explained.

PT Food Station Tjipinang Raa Directorate, Pamrihadi Wiraryo added, a number of efforts had been made by his party to maintain price stability. That was expanding cooperation to meet egg needs, his party increased the supply of chicken eggs with the Business to Business system (consumption per month of 6,864 tons), expansion of rice cultivation, cooperation in rice warehouses, optimization of markets and low-cost bazaars, and the addition of private partners in BUMD product distribution.

"What we do, to lighten the community's burden due to food shortages is to add partners with e-commerce, modern markets, and traditional markets," he closed.