 |
| Source: Sekretariat Kabinet Republik Indonesia. The Cipali toll gate. |
The Ministry of Transportation has been collaborating with the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing as well as the Chief of the Indonesian National Police on transportation for mudik since March. “We will hold another meeting and the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) shall provide helicopters in Cipali,” said the Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi.
The minister added that the Commander of Indonesian National Defence Forces is ready to prepare roadworthy routes in the south, where many alternatives exist. “I hope people to use these three routes so congestion does not happen at one place only. If most of the vehicles choose to take Cipali route, one-way traffic system shall be applied and direct the vehicles to south or north routes,” the Minister said.
The Indonesian government will also provide a number of road shelters, and has prohibited goods trucks from passing along mudik routes in the four days before and after Eid-Al-Fitr.
Flights have increased by 9% while motorbike journeys have grown by more than 10% so far. “Hopefully, with the free mudik programme allocated for 208,000 people, there will be (fewer) people who travel by motorbikes,” the Minister added.
Anticipating concerns about the adequacy of fuel for the journeys, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources will provide portable fuel in 5, 10, and 20-litre jerry cans to complement the fuel provided by petrol stations.
The same attention to detail was put in motion in early May to ensure that Ramadhan proceeds smoothly. A Basic Food Commodity Task Force led by Inspector General Police Setyo Wasisto is monitoring food prices in traditional markets and the supply of basic food commodities, and has the authority to carry out law enforcement against food cartels and mafia.
The supply of basic food commodities through to Eid was also assured in regions across Indonesia, with more stocks than projected demand to ensure that prices remain stable. Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman disclosed at the time that there are 40,000 tons of beef in stock at the State Logistics Agency (Bulog), although the usual demand during Ramadhan is for 30,000 tons. The stockpile is expected to rise to 50,000 tons.
"The point is that the price should not be above Rp80,000 per kg,” Minister Amran said of beef.
When it comes to rice, 1.9 million metric tons of rice were in stock as of early May, enough for the estimated demand for the next eight months, he said. "The Ministry of Agriculture has also stockpiled 2,000 tons of shallots and 1,000 tons of garlic. The Ministry prepared the staple food, while Bulog bought the warehouses that will be prepared by the Ministry of Trade. This is our synergy to face high demand on food ahead of and after Ramadhan,” Minister Amran said.
Indonesian Minister of Trade Enggartiasto Lukita further shared that rice prices are not expected to rise ahead of and till Eid al-Fitr because rice warehouses in Jakarta are filled with 400,000 tons of rice. There are also warehouses for rice in Central Java and East Java.
- Shallots stocks from January to June 2017 will reach 689,426 tons, against expected demand of 621,422 tons.
- The difference between supply and projected demand for sugar, from January till after Eid al Fitr, is 131,401 tons of sugar.
- There are 321,370 tons of cayenne pepper set aside from March to June 2017, while demand is 287,657 tons.
- Red peppers stocked over the same period amount to 405,340 tons, against demand of 375,140 tons.
- Chicken stocks for April to June 2017 came up to 1,659,936 tons to cover demand of 1,630,760 tons.
- The estimated supply of eggs is 1,121,297 tons, well over the demand of 900,688 tons.
“Sugar, regardless of its brands, will be sold at Rp12,500 per kg. Bulog sells it at Rp11,250 per kg, and it will be sold by the distributors at Rp11,950 per kg.," Minister Enggar said.
The authorities said at the time that speculators hoarding stocks and causing rises in food prices will be dealt with severely.