Head of the Bali Regional Office of the Finance Ministry's Treasury Directorate General Muhammad Mufti Arkan stated in Denpasar City on Friday that the funds for MBG were fully sourced from the central government.
He highlighted that a total of 80 MBG kitchens, officially known as nutrition fulfillment service units (SPPGs), have been established in Bali, accounting for 29 percent of the target to build 422 units.
Thanks to these kitchens, Arkan noted, the MBG program has catered to the nutritional needs of 256,005 schoolchildren, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers in Bali, with the figure expected to grow to 893,362 beneficiaries.
In Bali, the program began in Jembrana District on January 6, 2025.
He also pointed out that the MBG program, as one of President Prabowo Subianto's flagship initiatives, has now covered all 38 provinces in Indonesia.
Citing data from the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), he said that the program has reached residents in 7,022 sub-districts across 509 of 514 districts and cities nationwide as of September 14.
The number of free meal recipients has climbed to 25 million nationwide, supported by the operations of 8,091 SPPGs, each with the potential to employ 30–50 workers, he added.
As of September 15, Rp15.71 trillion had been spent, representing 22.1 percent of the Rp71 trillion (around US$4.2 billion) budget allocated for the program this year.
Arkan further underlined that in addition to improving people's nutritional intake, the MBG program can also help drive local economic growth through the involvement of village cooperatives, village-run enterprises, and farmers.
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Translator: Dewa K, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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