TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Head of Presidential Staff (KSP) General TNI (ret.) Dudung Abdurachman emphasized that the government is committed to continuing the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program amid the internal improvement process at the National Nutrition Agency (BGN).
As reported by ANTARA, Dudung, speaking at the Bina Graha Building, Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, on Friday, said the change in leadership and the ongoing legal steps were clear evidence that the government was being responsive and transparent.
"The change in BGN leadership and the ongoing legal process demonstrate that the government is not turning a blind eye to the problems that have arisen. The government dares to conduct evaluations, address weaknesses, and improve program governance for future improvements," he said.
Dudung made sure that internal obstacles would not prevent this vital program from continuing. President Prabowo Subianto has issued strict instructions to ensure that the nutritional needs of vulnerable groups are not disrupted.
"We shouldn't stop just because there's a problem, but rather learn from it, improve the system, and ensure the program's benefits continue to reach the community," he said.
As a form of control function, his party has carried out sudden inspections at several kitchens or Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG). Through direct monitoring in the field, KSP discovered that many service units had adopted operational standards quite well.
"From the inspection, the Presidential Staff Office (KSP) found that the SPPG had been operating according to standards, starting from kitchen cleanliness, food quality, food safety, distribution accuracy, and service to beneficiaries," he said.
He said that SPPGs that meet standards can serve as examples to replicate good practices in other regions while adapting to each region's conditions and needs.
Dudung added that program implementation at the grassroots level is improving with a stricter, cleaner, more transparent, and more measurable monitoring system. To ensure program accountability, KSP invites the public to participate in monitoring. This is crucial to ensure the program doesn't simply pursue quantitative targets.
"This oversight is important because the Free Nutritious Meals program should not be measured solely by the number of beneficiaries, but rather by prioritizing quality, targeted attention, food safety, and tangible benefits to the community," he said.
The government prioritizes ensuring that the distribution of nutritious food reaches those in need most, including those in the outermost regions.
"We want this program to be truly targeted, especially for school children, pregnant women, vulnerable groups, and communities in remote, frontier, and outermost areas (3T)," he added.
Dudung emphasized the position of KSP as the vanguard in overseeing the transformation of governance at BGN as a whole.
KSP, he said, is present as a program controller, a supervisor of improvements, a liaison between institutions, and a guardian to ensure that the President's priority programs remain on the side of the people. He hopes this evaluation will increase public trust in state-funded national strategic programs.
"We use every correction as an opportunity to improve ourselves, strengthen the system, and be accountable for every rupiah of public money used in the MBG program, to increase public trust," he said.
Read: How BGN Redefines Free Nutritious Meal Beneficiaries
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