Luhut urges BGN to overhaul free nutritious meal programme governance
Jakarta (ANTARA) - National Economic Council (DEN) chairman Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan has asked the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) to comprehensively overhaul the governance of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme.
The overhaul is intended to ensure that the flagship programme of President Prabowo Subianto is executed on target, consistently, and under strict supervision, so that its benefits can truly be felt by the public.
“One thing I want to underline is that every strategic decision must be based on accurate data, strict oversight, and the courage to make corrections if there are mistakes,” Luhut said in a written statement in Jakarta on Friday.
Luhut also stressed the importance of refocusing the locations of Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG) so that priority is given to underdeveloped, frontier, and outermost (3T) regions.
According to him, the construction of 1,700 SPPG is currently focused on areas with high stunting prevalence rates, such as Papua, Maluku, Nias, and East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).
The DEN chairman highlighted that SPPG construction must not only consider business practicality or seek out easy locations. The state, he said, must be present first in the most difficult and most needy places.
“Location determination must be based on accurate data, such as stunting figures, food vulnerability, and geographical challenges,” Luhut said.
In addition to remapping locations, standardisation of quality and hygiene is an absolute requirement that cannot be compromised, the DEN chairman added.
Luhut expressed appreciation for the firm action taken by the BGN head, who has closed around 1,300 SPPG because they were proven not to have met cleanliness and food safety standards. This enforcement is a manifestation of strict oversight to safeguard the nutritional quality of Indonesian children, starting from the most basic processes.
To support the sustainability of this programme, DEN is fully committed to helping improve governance by providing strategic recommendations, while also strengthening the digitalisation of the BGN system.
Through digital integration, the entire supply chain, food quality control, and performance evaluation of each SPPG can be monitored in real time and transparently.
“Because when it comes to the nutritional quality of Indonesia’s children’s future, there is no room for negligence. Every rupiah of public money must be ensured to become nutritious and healthy intake for the nation’s next generation,” Luhut added.