Cheap Market to Food Security Dialogue: Mardiono Delivers President Prabowo's Message to Bone Bolango

Presidential Special Envoy for Food Security, Muhamad Mardiono, conducted an official visit to Bone Bolango District by organising a cheap market event for thousands of residents, distributing seed and fertiliser aid, whilst simultaneously holding dialogue with leadership from various regional government agencies (OPD), agricultural extension workers, district officials, and village heads.

Mardiono stated that this visit carried a special government mission to strengthen national food security. Additionally, Mardiono conveyed President Prabowo Subianto’s message regarding the current global conditions, which he assessed as currently unstable.

According to him, all elements of society must unite and work together in facing various challenges that may occur in the future.

“In a turbulent global situation like now, all elements of society must be united. We must prepare ourselves as well as possible, for both the best and worst conditions,” Mardiono said at the Office of the Regent of Bone Bolango on Tuesday, 10 March 2026.

Mardiono assessed that Bone Bolango possesses significant potential for development, particularly in the agricultural, fisheries, and tourism sectors, as well as coffee commodities that are characteristic of the region. According to him, developing the tourism sector is also important because it can absorb substantial numbers of workers and provide sustainable economic impacts for the community.

“When people visit and feel comfortable, they will return. This is what needs to be continuously strengthened so that the regional economy develops further,” he said. Additionally, he also addressed the management of natural resources, including the mining sector. Mardiono emphasised that natural wealth must be managed by the state for the greatest welfare of the people in accordance with the mandate of Article 33 of the 1945 Constitution.

For this reason, the chairman of the party with the Kabah symbol stressed that the management of natural resources should not be controlled by certain groups alone, but must involve the community. “This natural wealth must be controlled by the state for the welfare of the people. The people must be involved in its management, it cannot be controlled by a handful of parties,” he said.

Through the cheap market activity and dialogue with the regional government, Mardiono hoped that central government programmes, particularly in the field of food security and regional economic development, could soon be felt by the community in Bone Bolango.

Following the cheap market activity and coaching sessions for village and district officials in Bone Bolango District, Muhamad Mardiono, who is also the General Chairman of the Central Board of the United Development Party (PPP), inaugurated the Daily Management Board of the Regional Leadership Council (DPW) PPP of Gorontalo Province for the period 2026-2031. The Gorontalo Governor Gusnar Ismail was also present at the inauguration.

The new PPP DPW Gorontalo leadership is now headed by Ismet Mile, who is also the Regent of Bone Bolango, with Regional Secretary Sri Darsianti Tuna, who is a member of the Gorontalo Provincial DPRD Faction. “This is a harmonious step of struggle. Next, it is simply a matter of harmonising to continue the party’s agenda in anticipating the next immediate agenda, namely election verification in early 2027,” said Mardiono in his speech at Graha Aziza, Gorontalo City.

Mardiono stated that dynamics within political party bodies are a normal matter, especially since PPP upholds the principle of democracy within the party. For this reason, every decision still goes through a consultation mechanism. “The results of consultation will certainly not satisfy all parties,” he said.

According to him, in a democratic state, there is no leader chosen by his people to 100 per cent. However, differences are part of democracy. And when a decision has been made, then all parties must uphold the results.

Mardiono also conveyed PPP’s targets in Gorontalo. He hoped that under the leadership of Ismet Mile, PPP could reclaim a seat in the Indonesian House of Representatives after two periods of having no representation from the region.

PPP will improve party governance in line with the mandate of the Party Congress to conduct party transformation. This is important so that in the 2029 elections, PPP is able to adapt to young generation voters, particularly Generation Z. “Political parties must try to keep up with developments in the times,” he said.