This is the price of Bulog's SPHP rice that was allegedly misused for campaigning.

It has been reported that rice from the National Food Agency's (NFA) Staple Food Supply and Price Stabilization Program (SPHP) has been found with stickers affixed promoting the presidential and vice-presidential candidacy of Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming Raka (candidate number 02). The large, animated stickers feature Prabowo and Gibran along with the number 2, placed in the center of the rice packaging.

The SPHP program is a joint initiative of the NFA and state-owned logistics company Perum Bulog.

Responding to the alleged misuse of the program for campaigning, Bayu Krisnamurthi, President Director of Perum Bulog, denied that his company was responsible for placing the stickers. He explained that Bulog no longer has authority over the rice once it enters the market.

“Bulog packages and distributes SPHP rice without any attributes except for Bulog and National Food Agency attributes,” said Bayu Krisnamurthi, as quoted by Antaranews in Jakarta on Monday (January 29, 2024).

The SPHP program, launched in 2023, is set to continue into 2024. Maino Dwi Hartono, Director of Staple Food Supply and Price Stabilization at the NFA, stated that the planned distribution of SPHP rice in 2024 is estimated to reach 1.2 million tons.

"Considering its effectiveness in 2023, in accordance with President Joko Widodo's directives, the SPHP rice program will continue in 2024 to maintain the stability of rice supply and prices and to control inflation," said Maino during a coordination meeting in Simatupang, South Jakarta on Wednesday (January 24, 2024), as quoted from the NFA website.

(Read also: Indonesia Imports 3 Million Tons of Rice in 2023, Highest in Five Years)

The NFA explained that the 2024 SPHP rice program will be implemented evenly throughout Indonesia in both bulk and 5-kilogram packages.

The prices are: Zone 1 Rp10,900/kg; Zone 2 Rp11,500/kg; and Zone 3 Rp11,800/kg.

SPHP rice can be purchased at traditional markets, modern retailers, Perum Bulog outlets, local governments, and other shops that are Perum Bulog's downstream partners.

The NFA claims the program is effective in curbing rice price increases. On a macro level, government rice distribution is considered to have contributed to suppressing inflation to 2.61% (year-on-year/yoy).

SPHP rice targets lower-middle-class communities, while rice aid is provided to the underprivileged.

"We remind everyone to truly maintain and monitor the implementation of the SPHP rice program to prevent misuse by certain individuals. We must ensure that any irregularities do not hinder the program's objectives," said I Gusti Ketut Astawa, Deputy for Food Availability and Stabilization at the NFA.

(Read also: These are the Largest Rice Importing Countries for Indonesia in 2023)