BANGGAI – The Minister of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions (Mendes PDT), Yandri Susanto, clarified that Village Funds (Dana Desa) are not being cut by the central government; rather, their governance and utilization are being restructured to be more measurable.

This was stated by Minister Yandri during his inspection of the Merah Putih Village Cooperative (Kopdes) in Bubung, South Luwuk District, Banggai Regency, Central Sulawesi, on Sunday (April 12, 2026).

"The funds are not being taken back by the center. Neither President Prabowo nor the Minister of Villages has ever taken the village funds. Instead, the governance is being changed to establish business units that function to eliminate moneylenders, abolish middlemen, act as off-takers, and distribute fertilizer, gas, and other necessities," explained Minister Yandri.

"This cooperative is a noble program. So, if anyone says village funds are being cut by the center, that is incorrect. The governance is simply being made more massive, comprehensive, and measurable," he added.

Furthermore, the Minister stated that the presence of the Merah Putih Village Cooperatives (KDMP) across all villages—with their various business units—will help realize President Prabowo Subianto's 6th Asta Cita: building from the villages and the grassroots to achieve economic equality and poverty eradication.

According to him, economic equality is essential to prevent disparity. He considers village cooperatives to be the right instrument to achieve this. Consequently, he has proposed a moratorium on new permits for other modern retail chains, as their functions will be replaced by the Merah Putih Cooperatives.

Minister Yandri invited the entire village community to actively participate in making the Merah Putih Cooperatives a success. He noted that if the cooperative succeeds, 80 percent of the business surplus (Sisa Hasil Usaha) will return to the members, who are the villagers themselves. Additionally, 20 percent of the profits will be allocated as Village Original Income (PADes).

"This is the difference between this and Alfamart, Indomaret, or other modern retailers. In those chains, all profits are taken by the owners. But with the cooperatives initiated by President Prabowo, 100 percent of the profits are for the people in that village," he asserted.

The Minister expressed optimism that the KDMP in Banggai, Banggai Kepulauan, and Banggai Laut regencies will succeed and serve as a tool for economic parity and poverty alleviation.

For information, the Bubung Village Cooperative operates business units divided into eight outlets, including basic necessities, agriculture, an LPG station, a clinic, a pharmacy, an agricultural produce trading post, savings and loans, and a BRIlink agent.

Attending the event were Member of the House of Representatives (DPR RI) from the PAN Faction, Sarifuddin Sudding; Regent of Banggai, Amirudin; Regent of Banggai Kepulauan, Rusli Moidady; Chairman of the Banggai Regency Regional House of Representatives (DPRD), Saripudin Tjatjo; Regional Secretary of Banggai, Moh Ramli Tongko; and the Banggai Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda). Accompanying Minister Yandri during the inspection was the Head of BPI, Mulyadin Malik.

Foto: Reza/Kemendes PDT 
Teks: Rifqi/Kemendes PDT