BGN Denies News Of Thousands Of SPPGs Presenting A Fictitious Free Nutrition Food Menu

JAKARTA - The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has denied the issue of a fictitious Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) and ensured that the entire development process was closely monitored to make the Free Nutrition Eating Program (MBG) a success.

Deputy Head of BGN Sony Sonjaya explained that the issue arose because of the locations where banners had been put up that said the SPPG would be built but the physical construction did not continue.

"Until now, I am very sure that there is no fictitious SPPG. The fictitious SPPG news emerged because residents found the location points with banners (written), namely: 'Here a SPPG will be built'," he said when confirmed in Jakarta, Monday, confiscated by Antara.

Sony explained that the location points had been registered by certain parties inside the partner portal.bgn.go.id, but had not been built for days, even months.

"This of course hinders the MBG Program, because it hinders potential partners who are serious about building, because the location system looks full," said Sony.

He emphasized that the SPPG verification system was tight and had to go through 10 stages ranging from registration, construction, field surveys, determination of feasibility, to the creation of virtual accounts before MBG funds could be disbursed.

Sony added that the budget disbursement system is also very strict because funds can only be used if the foundation is proposed as a maker (perpetrator) and approved by the Head of the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) as an approver (approving or refusing) according to the needs and applicable market prices.

"Thus, if there is a SPPG building but there is no Head of SPPG, there will be no PIC foundation, there will be no virtual account. There will be no virtual account, so no budget will be sent, therefore, there will be no fictitious SPPG," he said.

As a corrective step, BGN reset proposals that do not show progress for more than 20 days, open complaint channels via WhatsApp with proof verification, and hold meetings with potential partners in 16 cities to ensure the seriousness of development.

"We are currently resetting the proposals that are already in the status of the preparation process. However, for more than 20 days there have been no reports on the progress of the SPPG development, the status of the proposal is returned to the verification status of the submission," he said.

Previously, Member of Commission IX DPR RI Sahidin highlighted the findings of the alleged fictitious Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG), which amounted to thousands in the implementation of the Free Nutrition Food program managed by the National Nutrition Agency (BGN).

This was conveyed by Sahidin during a specific working visit to Batam, Riau Islands Province.

"BGN said there were about eight thousand SPPGs that were determined. However, five thousand of them were not clear. Some only opened accounts, but none of the physical locations. The information I received, including in Batam, was not entirely. This raises allegations that the SPPG is only for sale," said Sahidin in his statement in Jakarta, Saturday, September 20.

Related to this, Sahidin encouraged the strengthening of supervision by BGN on the existence and operations of SPPG in the field. He also highlighted information that many SPPGs are controlled by a handful of people.