Jakarta (ANTARA) - The government plans to activate 953 new SPPGs, or kitchens supplying meals for the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program, in 34 provinces across Indonesia, expanding the program's reach to an additional 1.5 million beneficiaries.
National Nutrition Agency (BGN) Deputy Head Agustina Arumsari said the initiative would follow the activation of 1,460 SPPGs in disadvantaged, frontier, and outermost regions across 32 provinces in October.
"We have promised to activate kitchens already registered through our partner portal gradually and carefully, with priority given to maximizing benefits and meeting the needs of recipients," she said in Jakarta on Thursday.
Arumsari added that BGN was also prioritizing the expansion of kitchens in regions with high childhood stunting rates.
"Priority recipients include pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, toddlers, and students at Islamic boarding schools," she noted.
Regarding activation requirements, she emphasized the importance of kitchens being adequately equipped and staffed with qualified personnel.
"We are activating new kitchens that can demonstrate readiness in terms of infrastructure and human resources and have the capacity to produce and distribute MBG in line with our food safety standards," Arumsari added.
She further noted that every SPPG must obtain hygiene and sanitation certification before beginning operations to ensure that food is prepared in a safe environment.
Arumsari also urged prospective MBG partners to follow the agency's official procedures.
"The establishment of SPPGs is governed by a formal system. No one is authorized to collect fees on behalf of BGN," she said.
She encouraged prospective partners to report any suspected illegal levies to the authorities.
BGN Head Sudaryono earlier reported that the MBG program had reached approximately 58 million people nationwide, supported by nearly 27,000 kitchens.