"Canteens are included in our partner criteria," he informed on Tuesday while answering a question on the decline in the income of school canteens due to the MBG program.
He added that BGN is open for all partners to make the program initiated by President Prabowo Subianto a success.
Therefore, the program, including the mechanism, is being carried out in stages by including school canteens and MSME merchants.
"We are preparing a mechanism so they can participate," Hindayana emphasized.
On a different occasion, the principal of Bangka 01 Pagi Elementary School, Agus Suwardi, said that school canteens can still survive amid MBG implementation in the South Jakarta area.
"During the second recess, we allow the students to go to the canteen. Therefore, the MBG program does not overlap," he explained.
He informed that the canteen at his school is still open with prior information regarding the implementation of the MBG program.
However, priority will be given to food provided under the MBG program, which is delivered to each class first.
One of the canteen merchants at Bangka 01 Pagi Elementary School, Yuni, expressed her readiness to join the MBG program, especially for catering procurement.
"If there is a chance of opening, I want to join the program," she said.
Yuni, who has been with the school canteen since 2014, informed that her sales have been relatively subdued since the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
Before the pandemic, she earned up to Rp500 thousand (US$30) per day but now, she makes just Rp100 thousand.
Moreover, students prefer to bring their own food rather than buy it from the canteen.
"I do not know how long this (situation) will continue," she said.
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Translator: Luthfia Miranda P, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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