Two MBG Kitchens at Indonesia-Timor Leste Border Completed

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Ministry of Public Works (PU) has completed the construction of two units of Nutrition Fulfilment Service Centres (SPPG) in the Indonesia-Timor Leste border area to support the Free Nutritious Meals Programme (MBG). Both kitchens are located in the areas of the Wini State Border Crossing Post (PLBN) and the Motamasin PLBN, in Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT). This construction is part of the government’s efforts to deliver basic services equitably to border regions. It also strengthens the role of border crossing posts as hubs for community services and drivers of the local economy. Minister of PU Dody Hanggodo stated that MBG is a strategic component of national development. He added that the construction of these facilities is focused on areas with urgent nutritional service needs, including border regions. “This is a tangible manifestation of the state’s presence in ensuring decent nutritional access, maintaining price stability, and guaranteeing food availability for border communities,” he said. With the completion of the SPPG construction at these two locations, the facilities are expected to support the implementation of MBG, particularly for children in border areas, while also encouraging local community economic activities. The construction of both SPPGs was carried out by the NTT Strategic Infrastructure Work Unit of the Directorate General of Strategic Infrastructure, with PT Pembangunan Perumahan (Persero) Tbk as the implementing contractor and PT Agrinas Jaladri Nusantara as the supervision consultant. The built facilities include a main kitchen, areas for washing equipment and food ingredients, dry and wet storage warehouses, equipment storage rooms, parking areas, clean water networks, and a Wastewater Treatment Installation (IPAL). Additionally, supporting infrastructure such as panel rooms, waste disposal sites, and landscape arrangements are available. The SPPG at PLBN Wini was built on a plot of 1,408.63 square metres in North Central Timor Regency. The Ministry of PU states that infrastructure development in border areas is part of efforts to strengthen equitable development and improve community welfare. The presence of these SPPGs is expected not only to serve as nutritional service facilities but also as a symbol of the state’s commitment to guaranteeing decent nutritional access for border communities.