Servio Maranda, Jakarta – Indonesia's National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has called on managers of nutrition fulfillment service units (SPPG) to produce positive content on TikTok to highlight the free nutritious meal program (MBG).
Tigor Pangaribuan, Deputy of the Systems and Governance Division at BGN, explained that the initiative aims to counter the proliferation of negative news surrounding the program.
"As of last week, we have served 1.6 billion meals. Cases of food poisoning are around 9,000, or just 0.0001 percent. Yet public attention often focuses on this tiny fraction," he said during the MBG Policy and Governance Socialization event at Hotel Soll Marina, Bangka, Bangka Belitung Islands, on Thursday, October 23, 2025.
Tigor noted that few media outlets acknowledge or praise BGN's efforts in implementing the MBG program. He stressed that promoting a positive narrative is crucial to fostering public awareness and appreciation of the program's benefits.
"I urge all foundation leaders and partners to create TikTok videos using positive messaging. We need to counter negative narratives because they can be harmful," Tigor emphasized.
Highlighting the program's impact in Bangka Belitung, Tigor shared that out of 120 designated SPPG points in tin-mining areas, 36 are operational and have significantly contributed to the local economy.
"If one SPPG spends Rp500 million monthly, that generates over Rp15 billion in cash flow for local purchases of vegetables, chicken, and other goods. The economy here is no longer solely dependent on tin," he explained.
Tigor also pointed out logistical challenges in the archipelago region, where some kitchens are clustered close together while others are more than six kilometers apart.
"We must ensure that kitchens close to each other also serve the more distant ones, which may take over 30 minutes to reach. Otherwise, the food could spoil. This is our biggest concern," he said.
Another challenge is the heavy reliance on food supplies from other regions, such as Palembang in South Sumatra. To address this, BGN is working with local authorities to develop agricultural infrastructure, including vegetable farming, poultry for meat and eggs, and fish production.
"With government support, the people of Bangka Belitung should be encouraged to farm, knowing their produce will be purchased by the SPPG kitchens," Tigor added.