DistantNews
Support us
Nutrition Meal Program Halted as Funds Unpaid, Hundreds of Service Units Cease Operations
🇮🇩 Indonesia /Health & Science

Nutrition Meal Program Halted as Funds Unpaid, Hundreds of Service Units Cease Operations

From CNN Indonesia · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Ongoing story
  • Hundreds of Free Nutrition Fulfillment Units (SPPG) across Aceh, Batam, West Java, Central Java, and NTB have halted their Free Nutrition Meal (MBG) program due to unpaid operational funds.
  • SPPG managers report that operational funds from the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) have not been received, depleting their resources and forcing a suspension of services.
  • The disruption affects hundreds of thousands of beneficiaries who rely on the MBG program for daily meals, with authorities stating the issue is a technicality in central budget disbursement.

Hundreds of nutrition service units providing free meals have ceased operations across multiple Indonesian regions, including Aceh, Batam, West Java, Central Java, and NTB. The halt began Monday, June 8, as SPPG managers report a critical lack of operational funds from the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) in Jakarta.

The main funds used to carry out the kitchen's operations are gone. Currently, they are still waiting for a top-up of funds from the central BGN.

— Muhammad RezaCoordinator of SPPG for the Banda Aceh Region explained the reason for the halt in services.

In Banda Aceh, seven out of 37 MBG kitchens stopped serving meals because their operational funds had run out, and the expected replenishment from BGN had not arrived. Muhammad Reza, the coordinator for SPPG in Banda Aceh, explained that while some kitchens have reserves, others are completely dependent on timely fund transfers.

Similarly, over 50 SPPG units in Batam, Riau Islands, suspended services for the same reason. Defri Fernaldi, the MBG coordinator for Batam, stated that SPPGs are prohibited from operating without approved budget transfers and cannot use bridge loans from partners. He noted that funds were expected to be topped up on Monday, June 8, allowing operations to resume.

Regarding the cessation of operations for several SPPGs, it did indeed happen starting today because the operational budget for SPPG has not yet been disbursed.

— Defri FernaldiMBG Coordinator for the Batam region commented on the suspension of services.

The issue extends to NTB, Central Java, and West Java, where 195 SPPGs in NTB alone have temporarily stopped operations. Eko Prasetyo, Head of BGN Regional NTB, confirmed the problem is a technicality in budget disbursement from the central government, assuring that efforts are underway to expedite the process. In Solo, 20 SPPGs and 31 in Brebes face similar disruptions, impacting thousands of student beneficiaries.

So, the non-operation is waiting for the fund disbursement. Today there is another disbursement, it will progress, then today there will be another disbursement, it will be soon, we will optimize everything.

— Eko PrasetyoHead of BGN Regional NTB assured that efforts are being made to expedite the fund disbursement.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by CNN Indonesia in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog