Phenomenological Study of the Simirah Information System in Addressing Cooking Oil Scarcity (2021-2023)

Abstract This research explores the government policy regarding the surge in cooking oil prices in 2022, a topic of ongoing debate among stakeholders. The findings reveal that the direct cash assistance (BLT) program’s regulatory impact assessment underscores lower-class economic principles’ volatility and the challenges of simplifying government policies, often perceived as unfeasible. On the other hand, the monitoring of bulk cooking oil (MGCR) producers benefits entrepreneurs and does not directly alleviate poverty. However, the practical implementation of the Simirah application system, a significant tool in this context, presents substantial and urgent hurdles for small-scale vendors. Their limited understanding of the system, coupled with their lack of technological knowledge and insufficient socialisation about the monitoring procedures related to cooking oil distribution, severely impede their effective use of the system. Large traders and distributors of cooking oil, with their relatively good technological knowledge, often step in as support and representatives for these small-scale vendors.