RADAR TULUNGAGUNG – President Prabowo Subianto attracted public attention after visiting the Merah Putih Village Cooperatives program in Ngelawak Village, Kertosono District, Nganjuk Regency, East Java. He made the visit ahead of the official launch of 1,061 Merah Putih Village Cooperatives on Saturday, May 16, 2026.

During the inspection, Prabowo checked various subsidized and affordable products that the cooperative offered. One of the main highlights involved subsidized 3-kilogram LPG gas cylinders that the cooperative sold for Rp16,000 per tube, a price many residents considered affordable amid ongoing global energy concerns.

The Merah Putih Village Cooperatives program has become one of the government’s flagship rural economic initiatives. The program aims to strengthen village distribution networks, stabilize prices, and support communities across Indonesia.

Affordable LPG Prices Draw Public Attention

As he toured the cooperative, Prabowo examined several products distributed through the village-based system. The subsidized LPG 3 kg cylinders quickly became the center of attention because the price matched the government’s highest retail price regulation.

The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources previously set the maximum retail price for subsidized LPG 3 kg between Rp16,000 and Rp19,000 per cylinder at official distribution points. However, local government policies and regional distribution costs still influence the final selling price.

The government continues to emphasize that only poor and vulnerable communities should use subsidized LPG. Despite rising global energy pressures, officials continue to maintain stable prices to protect household purchasing power.

Prabowo listened carefully as cooperative managers explained product prices and stock availability. Residents and local officials who accompanied the visit welcomed the initiative because they believed it could improve access to affordable daily necessities.

Cooperative Offers Subsidized Cooking Oil and Daily Essentials

Besides LPG cylinders, the cooperative displayed various household products at affordable prices. Subsidized cooking oil also attracted attention during the inspection.

Cooperative representatives explained that they sold cooking oil for Rp15,700 per liter in line with the government’s highest retail price policy. Prabowo briefly discussed product quality and packaging sizes while continuing his tour around the cooperative building.

The visit also highlighted the cooperative’s broader role in the village economy. Managers expect the facility to serve not only as a retail center but also as a local distribution hub that connects residents with government-supported goods and services.

Officials further explained that the cooperative system could support logistics distribution, financial services, and village economic activities in the future. Through this program, the government wants to strengthen local economies and reduce dependence on large retail chains in urban areas.

Prabowo Reacts to Comparisons With Modern Retail Stores

An interesting moment emerged when cooperative representatives explained that Merah Putih Village Cooperatives should not compete directly with modern retail companies and minimarkets.

The conversation started after Prabowo noticed several products selling at prices similar to commercial retail stores. Cooperative managers stressed that the program focuses on social welfare and community empowerment rather than profit maximization.

Through the Merah Putih Village Cooperatives concept, the government hopes to strengthen village independence by providing cheaper goods, improving distribution access, and helping rural communities obtain subsidized products more easily.

Observers believe the initiative could become one of the most important political and economic programs under Prabowo’s administration, especially in regions where residents still struggle to access affordable goods.

Government Accelerates Rural Economic Transformation

The launch of 1,061 Merah Putih Village Cooperatives marks one of the government’s largest cooperative expansion programs in recent years. Through this initiative, the administration seeks to empower rural economies through direct product distribution and community-based business models.

In Ngelawak Village, the cooperative has already gained attention because residents can now buy subsidized necessities without traveling long distances to urban centers. Local communities also expect the program to create jobs and encourage small business growth.

Prabowo’s visit to Nganjuk also signals the government’s commitment to accelerating rural economic transformation through cooperatives. As affordable LPG prices and subsidized products remain major public concerns, the Merah Putih Village Cooperatives program will likely stay under national spotlight in the coming months.