Governor of East Java, Khofifah Indar Parawansa, has assured that the distribution of bulk cooking oil for traders, especially in Pasuruan city, is running effectively and efficiently.
"The distribution process this time is 6 tons of bulk cooking oil for traders," she informed while monitoring the distribution process at the Big Market in Pasuruan city, East Java, on Friday.
Each merchant has been given a total quota of 20 kilograms and instructed to sell it in accordance with the highest retail price, she said.
"The price per liter of the tank is Rp10,500, and traders are expected to sell according to the HET (highest retail price), which is Rp11,500 per liter," the governor added.
Currently, the East Java provincial government is focusing on the allocation of packaged cooking oil to vendors in all districts and cities in the region, she said.
As part of the first phase, it distributed cooking oil to 17 regions on Thursday night (March 3, 2022), she informed. The areas included Banyuwangi, Bojonegoro, and Ngawi, she said.
Cooking oil will be sent to a number of regions in the next phase, she added. Overall, the cooking oil distribution is expected to cover as many as 38 districts and cities, she said.
"This is part of the (joint) efforts of various stakeholders with the hope that people will have no trouble getting cooking oil for daily consumption," Governor Parawansa remarked.
She said she expected that the cooking oil distribution by the provincial government along with the Trade Ministry and some other stakeholders would serve as a stimulus for traditional traders and encourage stable supply and prices.
The government has sought the assistance of mayors and heads of districts for the program to further encourage price stability, she added.
While speaking to people queuing up for cooking oil, Parawansa said that in the next few days, the government-subsidized cooking oil stock will arrive again.
She said that 4 thousand tons of oil will be supplied by March 9, 2022. It is expected to meet the needs of the general public, she added.
"With the arrival of (more) cooking oil, hopefully, the needs of the community can be met soon," she remarked.
COPYRIGHT © ANTARA News Jawa Timur 2022