Commission IX of the DPR said MBG during school holidays is not effective

JAKARTA - Deputy Chairman of Commission IX of the House of Representatives, Yahya Zaini, asked the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) to evaluate the implementation of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program during school holidays. According to him, the distribution of MBG is not effective if it is still carried out.

"MBG should also be dismissed, because it is not effective in reaching students," Yahya Zaini told reporters, Wednesday, December 24.

Yahya revealed that there were several things that made the MBG program ineffective to run during the school holidays. First, the menu served is not a cooked menu, but ready-to-eat or light food, which of course reduces the nutritional value.

"This is proven when Commission IX visited Tangerang City during the school holidays. The menu served by SPPG is food in the form of bread, bananas and milk, reducing the nutritional standard," he said.

Second, the collection of MBG to schools will burden parents because they have to spend money on transportation. "If the food is delivered to school while students are on vacation, it will burden parents, because they have to give their children money for transportation just to pick up the food," he explained.

Third, if MBG is sent to the student's house, of course BGN must also issue additional budget for transportation.

He assessed that this had the potential to be a waste because it was impossible to be charged to the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG).

"If the food is delivered to each house, it will add transportation costs, and it is more complicated because the students' houses are widely spread. Then who will bear the transportation costs? It is impossible to charge it to SPPG because the amount is quite large. But if it is charged to BGN, it is a waste," said Yahya.

"So the policy of BGN which still divides food during school holidays should be evaluated, because it burdens parents, SPPG and BGN itself," he added.