Why Are Polri and TNI Allowed 1,000 SPPGs? Here's BGN's Explanation

JAKARTA - The Deputy Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) for Operational Nutrition Fulfilment, Sony Sonjaya, has revealed the reasons why the Indonesian National Police (Polri) and the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) are permitted to manage 1,000 Free Nutritious Meals Kitchens (MBG) or Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG).

“If now, why does Polri get 1,000, why does TNI get 1,000? The story is like this: we were not sure whether this programme was truly supported by the community or those involved in its implementation,” said Sony during the event “One Year of the Free Nutritious Meals Journey in Community Empowerment” at the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture Office, Central Jakarta, on Thursday (16/4/2026).

Sony stated that the government initially planned to build 1,542 SPPGs using the State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBN) in 514 districts/cities.

“So, 1,542 using APBN. Then we were instructed like this: Polri 1,000, TNI 1,000, Kadin 1,000. So if now people come and ask ‘Why Polri 1,000, TNI 1,000?’, don’t blame, don’t look at now, the history at that time indeed needed acceleration, so they were appointed,” he said.

Over one year of the MBG programme’s operation, Sony claimed that the formed SPPGs have reached 27,066 verified units, with more than 25,000 of them already operational.

“This is one concrete example, the first concrete manifestation because those 27,000 SPPGs entirely empower the community. Not a single one that is currently operational was established through the procurement of goods and services process,” he said.

Therefore, the majority of SPPGs do not use APBN funds, but are instead financed through partner self-funding, private sector contributions, and community self-funding.

“Alhamdulillah, not a single rupiah has been used so far for operational SPPGs from the APBN,” he said.