Ilham Octafian, Jakarta – The government will distribute two liters of cooking oil each month to social aid recipients starting October, with Rp 6.5 trillion ($390 million) allocated to expand the food aid program.

Previously, beneficiaries received one liter of cooking oil, but the new policy will double that amount for October and November distributions. Each household will also continue receiving 10 kilograms of rice per month.

"The increase is intended to boost people's purchasing power, especially for social assistance recipients," House of Representatives Budget Committee Chairman Said Abdullah said on Tuesday. He added that an earlier proposal to provide five liters of oil per household was scrapped due to concerns it would deviate from the program's original purpose.

The adjustment follows a meeting between Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa and House leaders last week, who argued that rice aid alone was insufficient. The measure was later approved during the plenary session on the 2026 State Budget.

"The government agrees with the House's proposal to expand the social assistance package, including the addition of two liters of cooking oil," Purbaya said.

Arief Prasetyo Adi, head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas), said the Rp 6.5 trillion allocation consists of Rp 5.3 trillion for rice and Rp 1.1 trillion for cooking oil. He confirmed that the oil distribution would be conducted in a single round, totaling four liters per household over two months.

Officials expect the expanded package to ease household burdens amid fluctuating food prices toward year-end. Cooking oil has been identified by Statistics Indonesia (BPS) as one of the commodities influencing poverty levels, alongside rice, which accounts for more than 21 percent of the urban poverty line and nearly 25 percent in rural areas.

Source: https://jakartaglobe.id/news/govt-earmarks-390-million-for-social-aid-adds-extra-cooking-oi