Bulog Boss Affirms SPHP Rice Packaged Without Holding Candidate Attributes For Vice Presidential Candidates

President Director of Perum Bulog Bayu Krisnamurthi. (Photo: Mery Handayani/VOI)

JAKARTA - President Director of Perum Bulog Bayu Krisnamurthi emphasized that rice Stability for Supply and Food Prices (SPHP) is packaged and distributed without containing any presidential candidate attributes.

"Bulog packs and distributes SPHP rice without any attributes except for the attributes of Bulog and the National Food Agency," said President Director of Bulog Bayu Krisnamurthi as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, January 29.

Bayu added that the SPHP is a government program through the National Food Agency implemented by Bulog in order to maintain rice price stability.

In its distribution, said Bayu, Bulog collaborates with various distributor networks, both modern retailers and traditional markets, so that it is easy for people to access the rice.

"So, the rice price stabilization program can be carried out massively in order to maintain rice price stability," he said.

Regarding the discovery of SPHP rice affixed with stickers from one of the pairs of presidential and vice presidential candidates, Bayu admitted that Bulog no longer has the authority to regulate the use of rice after it has been circulated in the community.

"When the rice has been marketed to the public, Bulog can no longer regulate the use of the rice," he said.

Previously, the Head of the National Food Agency (NFA), Arief Prasetyo Adi, denied that his party and Bulog deliberately stuck one of the candidate pairs stickers to SPHP rice.

He emphasized that SPHP rice is food assistance prepared by the state and uses state money.

"Of course it is impossible that the National Food Agency or Bulog, because we are part of the state and only focus on working hard to prepare and overcome deficit food," he said.

The realization of the distribution of SPHP rice in 2023 reached 1.196 million tons from the target of 1.085 million tons or 110.30 percent.

For 2024, nationally, the rice SPHP is targeted to reach 1.2 million tons.

Especially for January-March, the SPHP will be tried to reach 200 thousand tons per month.