Wednesday, 20 May 2026
MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM - Mayor of Medan, Rico Waas, has outlined a series of strategic measures to stabilize food prices, enhance neighborhood security, and bring government services closer to residents. The remarks were delivered during a visit by participants of the Professional Field Study (Kuliah Kerja Profesi) of the Sespimmen Polri Education Program Batch 66 of 2026, held at the Medan Mayor's Residence on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.
The Medan City Government conducts routine monitoring of staple food prices through daily reports issued by the Food Security Agency. According to Mayor Rico Waas, commodities such as chicken, eggs, chili, onions, and rice remain key priorities due to their frequent price fluctuations.He cited a recent case in which chicken prices surged to IDR 41,000 per kilogram. In response, relevant regional agencies immediately deployed field teams to investigate the cause of the spike and prevent further market instability.
Read Also:Strengthening Supply Chains and Farmer Empowerment
Rico Waas noted that Medan's reliance on food supplies from outside the region remains one of the main drivers of price volatility. He pointed to previous crop failures in Karo Regency that directly impacted chili availability in Medan.
To address this challenge, the city government continues to strengthen cooperation with producing regions while empowering small-scale farmers with support from Bank Indonesia. Medan has also optimized the "Simpang" digital platform, which provides real-time updates on food stock and price movements.When abnormal price increases occur, the city government—together with the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda)—immediately conducts field inspections to ensure there is no hoarding or disruption in distribution channels.
Read Also:"Fluctuating food prices must be addressed quickly, as they can significantly impact the community," Rico said.
Government Presence in the Community
Beyond food security, Mayor Rico Waas emphasized the importance of direct government engagement with citizens through the "Sapa Warga" program and the revitalization of neighborhood security posts.He explained that he, along with district heads and village leaders, conducts weekly community visits to identify and resolve local issues more efficiently.
Read Also:Rico also highlighted a recent case in Medan Selayang, where a suspected drug-related base was swiftly dismantled within days after being reported.
"People need to feel assured that the government is present in their daily lives," he added.
Leadership Capacity Building for Police OfficersSenior Widyaiswara of Sespim Lemdiklat Polri, Brig. Gen. Dwi Subagio, stated that the Professional Field Study aims to enhance analytical thinking, leadership skills, and participants' understanding of real-world governance challenges.
Read Also:He added that the program also addresses broader national issues such as food security, energy resilience, and economic stability in support of Indonesia's long-term vision, Indonesia Emas. (IDNC)
REPORTER: Teguh Panjaitan | EDITOR: Fik Sagala
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