Jakarta (ANTARA) - The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) is accelerating the verification of prospective nutritional fulfillment service units (SPPGs) or kitchens for the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) as part of efforts to boost the program’s coverage.

This was reported by BGN head Dadan Hindayana to President Prabowo Subianto during a meeting at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, on Tuesday.

“As of today, there are 17 thousand prospective SPPGs that we are currently verifying,” he told the press after meeting.

He said that the verification has been stepped up to increase the number of SPPGs operating across regions and the number of MBG beneficiaries.

Related news: Private partners fund 14,000 MBG kitchens, not state: official

The target is to have around eight thousand SPPGs operating by the end of August 2025 to serve nearly 20 million beneficiaries.

“For more than two weeks, we have been accelerating the verification process, shortening the administrative process, including for the financing. We provide financing earlier to boost the number of beneficiaries quicker,” he said.

During the meeting with the president, Hindayana reported that the number of operational SPPGs across the country has reached 5,103 units as of August 11, 2025, with the number of beneficiaries crossing 15 million.

He also informed that the state budget realization for the free meals program has reached Rp8.2 trillion (around US$505.2 million) as of August 11.

The budget spending is targeted to reach around Rp10 trillion to Rp11 trillion by the end of August.

He affirmed that to ensure the safety of food, his agency is strengthening the standard operating procedures (SOPs), including for the selection of raw materials and food preparation times.

The MBG program was launched on January 6, 2025, as one of the main initiatives of President Prabowo and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka for their 2024–2029 term.

Through the program, the government aims to improve the nutritional status of children under five, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and schoolchildren up to the high school level.

Related news: Rp8.2 trln spent on free meals program, nutrition agency says





Translator: Genta T, Mentari D, Raka A
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2025