Govt to Accelerate Free Meal Kitchen Development in Remote Regions

Bandung: The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) is preparing an accelerated scheme to establish 8,200 Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG), or free nutritious meal kitchens, in underdeveloped, frontier, and outermost (3T) regions in 2026.

BGN Head Dadan Hindayana said the move is aimed at meeting the national target of serving 82.9 million beneficiaries through the free nutritious meals (MBG) program.

He noted that acceleration is crucial, as the development of nutrition kitchen infrastructure in 3T areas remains far behind target by the end of 2025.

“In 3T regions, we planned 8,200 units, but by the end of this year only around 190 SPPG units can be established,” Hindayana said after the MBG Implementation Coordination Meeting on Wednesday, as quoted by Antara on Thursday, December 18, 2025.

To close the infrastructure gap, Hindayana emphasized the importance of human resource readiness. He said the recruitment process is being expedited, including through government contract workers and prospective civil servant pathways using the Academic Basic Competency Test (TGAT), to ensure new units can operate.

“By February, most of the TGAT process will certainly be completed,” he said.

Hindayana explained that BGN’s 2026 roadmap prioritizes regional balance. In addition to 8,200 units in remote regions, the agency is targeting at least 25,400 SPPG units in densely populated urban areas.

“As a result, there will be a total of around 32,000 to 33,000 SPPG units serving 82.9 million people,” he said.

For the short-term target by the end of 2025, BGN continues efforts to complete the establishment of 19,000 SPPG units nationwide.

Food safety was also highlighted as a key issue during the meeting. Hindayana said West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi had urged faster issuance of Hygiene and Sanitation Feasibility Certificates (SLHS) for provider kitchens.

BGN data show that in West Java, of the 1,548 SPPG units that applied for certification, only around 900 kitchens have passed and officially obtained SLHS.