Bakom Head: Increase in SLHS-certified SPPG Units Improves MBG Programme Quality

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Head of the Indonesian Government Communication Agency (Bakom), Muhammad Qodari, stated that the increase in the number of Satuan Pelayanan Pemenuhan Gizi (SPPG) units holding Sertifikat Laik Higiene dan Sanitasi (SLHS) has improved the quality of the Makan Bergizi Gratis (MBG) programme. “We should be grateful that the increase in SLHS on one hand has indeed been able to enhance food quality, so that unwanted incidents (food safety events) have significantly decreased compared to their peak in August and September 2025,” he said during a press conference in Jakarta on Wednesday. Qodari emphasised that the government continues to improve the quality of the MBG programme, both internally by the Badan Gizi Nasional (BGN) and with support from other ministries and agencies, at both central and regional levels. “At the central level, the government has established a task force under the coordination of the Coordinating Ministry for Food to unite various elements of bodies or ministries/agencies involved in MBG. We continue to strive to improve the quality of MBG,” he stated. Qodari added that as of 12 May 2026, 1,738 Satuan Pelayanan Pemenuhan Gizi (SPPG) units were suspended as a measure to improve MBG governance. “Based on data as of 12 May 2026, there are 1,738 SPPG that have been temporarily suspended because they do not meet standards. In addition, the Badan Gizi Nasional (BGN) also operates the SAGI 127 call centre as a public complaint channel,” he said. Throughout 2026, the SAGI 127 call centre recorded a total of 3,615 complaints. The government is committed to periodically improving this governance to the public as a manifestation of accountability for the programme funded by the state budget. Previously, the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) has also continued to accelerate the issuance of SLHS for more than 26,000 MBG kitchens across Indonesia to ensure national food security. “The increase is quite significant; at the end of March, applications were still below 10,000, but now there are more than 26,000 SPPG kitchens recorded,” said the Director of Environmental Health at Kemenkes, dr Then Suyanti. She revealed that as of 24 April 2026, at least 14,646 SLHS have been issued, reaching 81 percent of the total applications received.