PU Ministry Completes Two MBG Kitchens on the Indonesian-Timor Leste Border
JAKARTA - The Ministry of Public Works (PU) has completed the construction of two Nutrition Fulfillment Service Centers (SPPG) in the Indonesian-Timor Leste border area to support the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) Program.
The two kitchens are located in the Wini and Motamasin Border Crossing Post (PLBN) areas, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).
The development is part of the government's efforts to provide basic services evenly to border areas.
This also strengthens the role of border posts as a community service center and local economic driver.
Minister PU Dody Hanggodo said the MBG Program is a strategic part of national development.
"MBG is a mandate from President Prabowo Subianto to print a healthy and intelligent generation of Indonesians. This program also encourages the local economy by involving farmers, fishermen and MSMEs. Thus, MBG is not only a social program, but also part of the national development strategy," said Dody as quoted from a written statement, Monday, April 20.
Dody added that the construction of the facility was focused on areas with urgent nutritional service needs, including border areas.
"This is a tangible form of the state's presence in ensuring access to decent nutrition, maintaining price stability and ensuring the availability of food for border communities," he said.
With the completion of the construction of the SPPG in the two locations, this facility is expected to support the implementation of MBG, especially for children in border areas, as well as encourage local community economic activities.
The construction of the second SPPG is carried out through the NTT Strategic Infrastructure Working Unit of the Strategic Infrastructure Directorate General, with the implementing contractor PT Pembangunan Perumahan (Persero) Tbk and the Supervision Consultant PT Agrinas Jaladri Nusantara.
The facilities built include a main kitchen, a washing area for tools and food, dry and wet warehouses, equipment storage rooms, parking lots, a clean water network, and a Wastewater Treatment Plant (IPAL).
In addition, there is also supporting infrastructure, such as panel rooms, waste disposal (TPS) and landscaping of the area.
The MBG kitchen at the Wini PLBN was built on an area of 1,408.63 square meters in North Central Timor Regency.
Meanwhile, the MBG kitchen at the Motamasin PLBN stands on a land area of 1,469.12 square meters in Malaka Regency.
The Ministry of PU stated that the construction of infrastructure in border areas is part of efforts to strengthen the equitable development and improve people's welfare.
The existence of the SPPG is expected not only to be a nutritional service facility, but also as a symbol of the state's presence in ensuring access to decent nutrition for border communities.