BGN: MBG Drives Regional Economic Movement Through Trillion Funds to SPPG

JAKARTA - The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) stated that the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) Program not only has an impact on the nutritional fulfillment of the community, but also spurs economic movement in the regions with trillions of rupiah circulating through the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG).

Head of BGN Dadan Hindayana stated that most of the BGN budget was directly channeled to the regions through a virtual account mechanism that is connected to SPPG throughout Indonesia.

"The BGN 93 percent of the money is directly channeled from the State Treasury Service Office (KPPN) through a virtual account to all SPPG in Indonesia, which number is 25,574. So, with this program, there is an equalization of money transfers in every region," said Dadan as quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, March 19.

Dadan said that each SPPG receives an average of around Rp1 billion per month, which is then circulated in their respective regions. For example, in West Java, which has around 5,000 SPPG, the circulation of funds reaches Rp5 trillion every month.

"So, 1 SPPG will receive an average of Rp1 billion per month. If there are 5,000 SPPG in West Java, that means that the money in West Java is circulating Rp5 trillion per month. With the current 2.5 months running, the money in West Java has been circulating around Rp11-12 trillion. This is what drives the wheels of the economy in every region," he said.

According to him, the MBG Program was initially designed to encourage the use of local resources because the food needs in this program are expected to be met from local production, thus opening up market opportunities for farmers, business actors, and local food industries.

Dadan also highlighted the importance of the role of SPPG in creating new jobs at the local level, ranging from operational personnel to experts such as nutritionists who are recruited from the local community.

Awareness of the importance of strengthening the local economy is now also increasing, including among local governments. Many regional heads have begun to encourage that funds that enter their regions are spent on local products and raw materials.

"I hope that there will be one circular economic movement in one area which is now beginning to be realized by all parties, how important it is to increase local productivity so that the economy in the area will develop. As long as many regional heads want the money that comes into one area to be spent by buying raw materials that are in the area," said Dadan.

To ensure that this runs optimally, BGN places nutrition experts at each SPPG, recruited from the local area. This step aims to ensure that nutritional fulfillment can be adjusted to the potential of resources and the preferences of the local community.

With this approach, the MBG Program is expected not only to improve the nutritional quality of the community, but also to strengthen the independence and sustainable economic growth of the region.