Gov’t Moves to Improve Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) Program Implementation Within One Month

The Government has reaffirmed that measures to improve the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program are currently underway.

This assurance was conveyed by Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan to the media on Wednesday (7/15) at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta.

“MBG-related challenges and instance of program misuse will be resolved. We target one month to address and rectify these issues,” the Coordinating Minister stated, following a limited meeting with President Prabowo Subianto.

Zulkifli also said that the Government is currently conducting an in-depth study of various issues arising in the implementation of the President’s priority program and is formulating appropriate corrective measures.

The results of the study, he added, will be submitted to the President for further decision.

“We will report the results to Mr. President as a basis for deciding the next steps. We will carry out a more in-depth study over the course of one month starting from today,” he said.

The Coordinating Minister also noted that that the Government had identified several obstacles in the implementation of the program, including instances of program misuse, mistargeted beneficiaries, and limitations in the availability of Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG) to support MBG distribution in several regions.

“There are many such issues, including program misuse and mistargeted beneficiaries, with numerous target locations already designated even though SPPG units are not yet available,” he said.

These improvements form is part of the Government’s commitment to strengthening the management of the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program, so that the implementation becomes more effective and transparent and can reach all intended beneficiaries in line with the program’s objectives. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat) (JAS/EP)