Jakarta, ThedailyID — North Sumatra Governor Bobby Nasution said regional governments are ready to oversee Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG) to ensure the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program achieves its goals.
Speaking on Wednesday, July 15, Bobby said President Prabowo Subianto had good reason to warn about individuals trying to exploit the flagship nutrition program.
“The President wants this program to run properly because its main goal is to improve the nutrition of schoolchildren,” Bobby said.
“Better nutrition will help children learn more effectively and develop their abilities,” he added.
Bobby said strong oversight is essential to keep the program on track. Without proper supervision, operational problems or misconduct could undermine its objectives.
“If problems occur at the SPPG level, the program’s main goal cannot be achieved,” he said.
He also supported Prabowo’s decision to involve regional governments in supervising MBG kitchens.
According to Bobby, local authorities should step in whenever they find irregularities that could reduce the program’s benefits for students.
“It is completely reasonable for regional governments to supervise the program,” he said.
“If an SPPG makes mistakes, we should warn it, correct it, and evaluate its performance.”
He added that schools could also request menu adjustments to better meet students’ nutritional needs.
Meanwhile, Bobby said authorities continue to monitor reports from across the country. Before the recent school holiday, officials identified several SPPGs with operational issues.
The problems involved not only food quality but also waste management.
“The latest reports I received before the school holiday showed that several SPPGs experienced issues, including food and waste management,” he said.
The North Sumatra provincial government has shared its findings with district and city administrations. It has also coordinated directly with SPPG managers to improve operations.
“We have monitored the situation and informed regents, mayors, and SPPG managers so they can address the issues,” Bobby said.
Earlier, President Prabowo instructed governors, regents, mayors, district heads, and village chiefs to inspect MBG kitchens after reports that some individuals had attempted to misuse the program.
He also encouraged officials to report violations directly to the National Nutrition Agency (BGN). If necessary, they can even report them to him through social media.
