He explained that the Air Force currently operates 10 MBG kitchens, each staffed by 50 workers, following standards set by the National Nutrition Agency (BGN). Each kitchen includes one Head of the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG), three Indonesian Development Pioneer Scholars (SPPI), a nutritionist, and an accountant.
"The rest are workers we recruit from the local community. This also helps reduce the unemployment rate and strengthens our workforce," Tonny stated during the inauguration of the MBG kitchens at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base in Jakarta on Wednesday.
He remarked that recruiting local residents was conducted through an open vacancy and selection process. In Makassar, for instance, up to 100 people have registered to work in one of the Air Force's MBG kitchens.
Therefore, he said the TNI AU plans to expand the program by adding more kitchens to absorb more local workers.
Related news: Free meals' budget absorption hits Rp7.9 trillion: BGN
"We are not limiting them to working only in the kitchen, but we are adding more kitchens so everyone can be accommodated," he remarked.
He further explained that the Air Force will soon operate 26 MBG kitchens that have already been built, along with another 18 kitchens ready for construction across various regions in Indonesia. According to Tonny, kitchen construction will take around 1.5 to 2 months to complete.
He also remarked that the Air Force aims to establish 100 MBG kitchens by the end of 2025, including in the outermost, frontier, and disadvantaged (3T) regions.
"It depends on the availability of materials. If they are available quickly, we are targeting completion within two months," he added.
Related news: MBG kitchen operator training to improve food safety: BGN
Translator: Yoanita Hastryka Djohan
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
