Pesantren can build SPPG kitchens to accelerate beneficiary expansion

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Religious Affairs states that pondok pesantren with more than 1,000 santri can build Satuan Pelayanan Pemenuhan Gizi (SPPG) kitchens as an effort to accelerate the expansion of beneficiaries in the religious education environment. “So the pesantren foundation submits an application to the BGN (National Nutrition Agency) and then the BGN processes it to establish an independent kitchen in the relevant pondok pesantren,” said Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Romo Muhamad Syafi’i in Jakarta on Monday. Romo Syafi’i explained that Ponpes planning to build SPPG can receive capital injection from the State-Owned Banks Association (Himbara), provided they meet the requirements for constructing SPPG. Meanwhile, for the kitchen, the Ministry of Religious Affairs and BGN will not require the kitchen to be like the prototype built for general schools. But it will be adjusted to the existing conditions in the pesantren. He added that flexibility is also given in the food distribution pattern. Pesantren that have used ompreng or individual eating containers are permitted to continue that system. While pesantren that still apply the buffet eating tradition are also allowed. “So it’s very adaptive now,” said Romo Syafi’i. Romo Syafi’i said that currently the regulations actually already allow educational units to become beneficiaries as well as managers of SPPG. However, the government will update the technical guidelines (juknis) so that pondok pesantren can be more clearly given the authority to establish independent kitchens. In addition, every SPPG must have a management structure, starting from the head of SPPG, accounting personnel, nutritionists, to other workers who can be recruited from the pesantren environment or the managing foundation. Romo Syafi’i emphasised that the government is committed to accelerating the distribution of MBG programme benefits to all eligible parties under the Ministry of Religious Affairs. “We have the same determination. As soon as possible, all eligible parties under the Ministry of Religious Affairs must immediately receive MBG services,” he said.