Sudaryono Asks for Patience, Not Rushing to Open New MBG Kitchens
Jakarta - The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) will not open or activate new Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG), or kitchens, for the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme in the near future.
BGN Head Sudaryono said the temporary halt was intended to allow the government to first improve the management of the approximately 27,000 SPPGs currently in operation. He said the improvements cover governance, sanitation, finance and operational management of the MBG kitchens. The government does not want to increase the number of kitchens before problems at units already running are resolved.
“Allow us to first sort out the 27,000 SPPGs that are already operational in terms of governance, rules and regulations. Do not let this remain unresolved while we keep opening new ones, and end up piling up problems,” Sudaryono said at a press conference at the Coordinating Ministry for Food office in Jakarta on Wednesday.
The policy also applies to partners who claim to have prepared kitchens and are ready to operate, including in frontier, outermost and least developed regions (3T). Sudaryono asked partners, banks and other parties involved in preparing MBG kitchens not to rush in demanding the opening of new units.
“So we ask for understanding from partners who may be ready. If there are those who say, ‘But mine is already done, sir. Already 100 percent, perhaps in the 3T regions,’ we still say, please wait a moment,” he said.
He explained that the BGN still needs to tidy up various regulatory aspects and cross-ministerial coordination before resuming the opening of new kitchens. These include matters related to the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform, and the National Population and Family Planning Board.
“We will first sort out governance, finances, matters with the Ministry of Health, regulations at the Ministry of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform, and with the National Population and Family Planning Board. Only after that will we issue new regulations accommodating the opening or activation of kitchens in 3T regions and other areas where many schools and children still need MBG,” he said.
However, the BGN has not set a definite time for when the opening of new kitchens will resume. Sudaryono said the decision can only be taken after internal improvements and coordination with relevant ministries and agencies are completed.
He said he understood the situation of partners who have built kitchens using bank financing. Therefore, Sudaryono asked them to give the BGN time to complete the improvement process.
“So we ask for your patience, a little patience, please be patient. Indeed, many people have already built kitchens, owe money to banks and are being chased by banks. Well, we have only been at this for a month, allow us a little more time to sort things out,” he concluded.