Pangkalpinang – The Cooperatives and SMEs Office of the Bangka Belitung Islands Province stated that three of the 393 Village Cooperatives of Merah Putih Subdistrict (KDKMP) in the region have begun operations and are playing a role in distributing basic necessities to the community, including basic necessities and three-kilogram LPG.
“Currently, there are three KDKMPs selling various basic necessities for residents, including rice, granulated sugar, cooking oil, and three-kilogram LPG,” said Yulita, Supervisor of Cooperatives, Cooperatives, and SMEs at the Babel Islands Province Office.
He explained that the three KDKMPs that were already operational were the Namang KDKMP in Central Bangka Regency, the Keciput KDKMP in Belitung Regency, and the Seliu KDKMP in Belitung Regency.
According to him, the existence of KDKMP is one of the government’s strategic efforts to strengthen the distribution chain of basic necessities at the village level, while ensuring that people obtain daily necessities at more affordable prices.
“KDKMP utilizes village government facilities to open outlets in operation, thus breaking the distribution chain for various basic necessities for village residents,” he said.
In strengthening cooperative operations, Yulita stated that KDKMP in the three villages had also established partnerships with a number of state-owned companies in the Bangka Belitung Islands Province, such as Bulog, ID Food, Pertamina, Pupuk Indonesia, PT Pos Indonesia, PT Timah, and other partners.
This partnership is expected to strengthen the supply of goods, maintain the availability of basic necessities, and support the strengthening of the rural economy through more efficient distribution channels.
“Through this integrated effort, KDKMP is expected to become a strategic instrument in strengthening the village economy, improving community welfare, and encouraging equitable development in this region,” he said.
Furthermore, Yulita targets that in the near future, 76 additional KDKMPs will be operational in the Bangka Belitung Islands to distribute various basic necessities. This is expected to help maintain price stability for village necessities ahead of this year’s Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.
“Currently, 76 KDKMPs are building outlets, and we hope these outlets will be completed quickly to distribute various needs to village communities,” he concluded. #
