Director General of Strategic Infrastructure Bisma Staniarto pointed out that the ministry has signed contracts worth a total of Rp1.23 trillion (US$73.4 million) with state-run construction companies Hutama Karya and Adhi Karya and two private consulting firms to build 152 out of the 222 SPPGs.
Speaking at the ministry’s office in Jakarta on Friday, he reported that Hutama Karya is set to carry out development in 78 locations across Aceh, North Sumatra, West Sumatra, Riau, Jakarta’s Seribu Islands District, Jambi, and South Sumatra.
Meanwhile, Adhi Karya has agreed to set up MBG kitchens in 74 locations in the provinces of Bangka Belitung Islands, Bengkulu, Lampung, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, and South Kalimantan.
Furthermore, the Public Works Ministry is scheduled to ink additional contracts for the construction of the remaining 70 SPPGs on Monday (November 24).
According to Staniarto, the ministry initially aimed to develop 264 MBG kitchens with this year’s budget allocation but later adjusted the target due to incomplete land transfers to local governments in several regions.
He also assured that prototypes for the kitchens have been customized to comply with President Prabowo Subianto’s instruction for strict adherence to safety and hygiene standards determined by the National Nutrition Agency (BGN).
Each SPPG must be built with materials resistant to bacteria and fungi and equipped with proper ventilation, clean water and waste treatment systems, fire-resistant kitchen coatings, epoxy-coated floors, and fire extinguishers.
The Public Works Ministry has also signed an MoU and cooperation agreement with BGN to accelerate SPPG development. More than 15 thousand SPPGs have so far helped provide free nutritious meals to around 44 million people nationwide as of November.
Launched on January 6 this year, the national flagship MBG program is projected to serve 83 million residents by March 2026.
Related news: BGN asks ministry to help expand free meals program to pesantrens
Related news: Govt probes Rp1 billion loss in West Bandung free meals program
Related news: Over 14,000 kitchens to serve free meals in Indonesia this month
Translator: Bayu S, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
