Bulog ready to accelerate food aid distribution for 33.2 million recipients
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Perum Bulog has declared itself ready to accelerate the distribution of rice food aid to 33.2 million beneficiaries in order to safeguard food security and protect the public’s purchasing power across Indonesia.
“Bulog is ready to move faster and on a more massive scale in distributing this food aid,” said Perum Bulog President Director Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani when contacted in Jakarta on Tuesday.
He said one of the measures being taken is partnering with the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) to speed up and scale up the distribution of the government’s food aid to the public.
The collaboration is intended to ensure the rice food aid promptly reaches those who need it across various regions of Indonesia, while also forming part of strengthened synergy ahead of the TNI’s 81st anniversary.
Rizal said he had earlier held direct coordination with the TNI Chief of Territorial Staff, Lieutenant General TNI Bambang Trisnohadi, at TNI Headquarters in Cilangkap.
The meeting discussed strengthening collaboration between Bulog and TNI units in supporting the accelerated distribution of government rice reserves (CBP) to the public.
“We see this synergy with the TNI as vital to ensuring the government’s food aid can promptly reach communities throughout the country, including areas that require stronger distribution support,” Rizal said.
According to him, support from TNI units in various regions will further strengthen the programme’s implementation, particularly in ensuring the distribution process runs smoothly all the way to the recipients.
The accelerated distribution of the food aid aligns with President Prabowo’s endorsement of the outcome of the Limited Coordination Meeting on Food, held in anticipation of a potential El Nino and to safeguard public food security ahead of Christmas and New Year 2027.
President Prabowo Subianto has approved additional food aid for the October to December 2026 period, with a total quantity reaching 1 million tonnes of rice for 33.2 million food aid recipients (PBP) covering the first to fourth income deciles. Each beneficiary will receive 10 kilograms of rice per month.
Beyond the food aid, the government has also approved the addition of 1 million tonnes of SPHP rice to meet public needs between September 2026 and March 2027.
According to Rizal, the policy demonstrates the government’s attention to ensuring the public’s food needs remain secure, particularly for groups in need of support.
“Meanwhile, Bulog’s task is to ensure all of these assignments are carried out as well as possible. That is why we will continue to strengthen coordination with all stakeholders so that distribution runs quickly, on a large scale, in an orderly manner, and on target,” Rizal said.