Vice President Gibran Urges MBG Programme Prioritisation in 3T Regions

The Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme will be more targeted if focused on 3T areas, stated Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka. He made these remarks during a dialogue with parents and local residents at Wolomoni Primary School in Ende Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, on Thursday, following an inspection of the programme’s readiness at the school.

According to the Vice President, regions such as Niowula Village, which are located far from urban centres, are the areas most in need of the programme. Consequently, the government intends to accelerate various supporting processes to ensure the MBG can commence promptly. Gibran noted that kitchens prepared for the programme must quickly obtain the necessary permits and feasibility tests to begin operations.

“Areas like this are precisely those that need the MBG most. Therefore, if the kitchens are ready, we must automatically accelerate the licensing process. I am certain that the children behind me truly need the MBG, and I believe it will alleviate the burden on the mothers here,” said the Vice President.

In addition to highlighting the acceleration of the programme, Gibran acknowledged that the MBG still faces several challenges requiring improvement, particularly regarding governance and oversight. He stated that governance must be improved to ensure efficiency, preventing improper procurement and, most importantly, eliminating corrupt practices.

Speaking to the media, Gibran mentioned that the government would utilise the school holiday period to conduct a thorough evaluation of the MBG’s implementation. He noted that the break provides an ideal window to review the governance within the National Nutrition Agency (BGN).

Furthermore, Gibran emphasised the importance of involving various community elements in the execution of the MBG, including parents, schools, vocational students specialising in culinary arts, as well as community and religious organisations.

The Vice President added that the government’s focus on 3T regions aligns with President Prabowo Subianto’s directive to ensure that development is no longer oriented towards specific regions but reaches all areas equally. “What we highlighted today is the disparity. Development is no longer Java-centric, but Indonesia-centric,” the Vice President remarked.

A student representative from Jenderal Soedirman University, Rapid Bena Matin, noted that the visit provided a clear picture of the gap in access between urban areas and 3T regions. He expressed readiness for students to contribute to monitoring and evaluating the government’s programmes to ensure benefits are distributed equitably.