Dian Rahma Fika, Jakarta – Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) Dadan Hindayana revealed the main reasons why the free nutritious meal program (MBG) run by President Prabowo Subianto's government has not yet reached the Papua region. Dadan said the implementation of the free nutritious meal program was influenced by three essential things, one of which was not owned by the Papua region.
"There are three important things in this program. One, budget. Two, human resources. Three, infrastructure. The budget is complete. Human resources are there. Infrastructure is not yet," said Dadan when met after a working meeting with Commission IX on Monday evening, February 3, 2024. Currently, Dadan claims the government is working to ensure that Papua and Central Papua immediately receive the benefits of MBG.
Dadan said the two regions are among the priorities. The government's efforts, said Dadan, to accelerate the achievement of the MBG target are carried out by adding kitchens and cross-sector cooperation. Dadan is targeting 1.5 million people to enjoy free nutritious meals by mid-February. This follows the plan to add around 238 nutrition fulfillment service units (SPPG) in the same month
Meanwhile, as of February 3, 2025, the realization of MBG recipients was 730,000 people with the number of SPPGs reaching 245 spread across 34 provinces in Indonesia. Dadan said that of the target of MBG beneficiaries of 82.9 million people per 2025, 0.8 percent had been achieved.
"If later in mid-February it is 1.5 percent. That means it is 98.5 percent short. There are still many opportunities. So the community does not need to worry about missing out on this program because our program is only 0.8 percent," said Dadan.
The Bogor Agricultural Institute lecturer also said that the government will invite several state institutions and religious organizations to cooperate in order to accelerate the achievement of MBG. The institutions mentioned by Dadan include the Indonesian Police, the Indonesian National Army (TNI), the State Intelligence Agency (BIN), then Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah.
On the same occasion, Dadan ensured that BGN would maximize the absorption of the State Budget of Rp71 trillion. He was reluctant to comment on the continuation of the discourse on adding Rp100 trillion in the free nutritious meal funds that he had previously proposed.