Jakarta Government Urged to Anticipate Food Price Spikes

Jakarta City Council Commission C Secretary, Ismail urged the Jakarta government to ensure food availability and maintain price stability ahead of the Ramadan and Idulfitri 2026 holidays.

We can assess whether the preparations are sufficient

He noted that the surge in consumer demand leading up to major religious holidays must be addressed early to prevent significant price spikes.

His office regularly holds annual coordination meetings with various regional government agencies and three city-owned food enterprises: Perumda Dharma Jaya, PT Food Station Tjipinang Jaya, and Perumda Pasar Jaya

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According to him, the meeting aimed to obtain a comprehensive overview of the Jakarta government's readiness to handle the potential surge in food demand during Ramadan.

"From that meeting, we can assess whether the preparations are sufficient. Beyond the reports provided in our working sessions, we also typically conduct direct field inspections," he expressed, Wednesday (1/28).

He went on to say that field visits are vital to ensure both adequate supplies and food affordability for the public. He warned that if these two factors are not properly monitored, it could lead to unwanted price spikes.

Ismail noted that Commission C—the legislative committee overseeing financial affairs—has yet to receive specific reports from the related city agencies regarding Ramadan preparations.

"We'll propose a special hearing to discuss the preparations for Ramadan and Idulfitri," he explained.

He noted that the new Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program has introduced a new layer of complexity to the city's holiday food planning. The program is reportedly tightening the supply of staple goods in large metropolitan areas like Jakarta.

"The impact is real. We’re seeing a supply crunch for several raw ingredients as producing hubs prioritize the national meal program," he stated.

With this supply-demand tension likely to fuel inflation, he called on the Jakarta administration to factor this new development into their market stabilization plans to prevent price hikes during Ramadan.

"It’s not 'business as usual' anymore; there's a new factor we have to account for. While the program itself is positive, we must still be cautious, especially with Ramadan and Idulfitri right around the corner," he added.