MBG Targets 5 Million NU Santri, PBNU Forms Acceleration Task Force

PBNU General Chair KH Yahya Cholil Staquf/ANTARAA

JAKARTA - The Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) Executive Board has participated in forming a task force (task) to help accelerate the implementation of the free nutritious eating program (MBG) which also targets 5 million students in Islamic boarding schools assisted by Nahdlatul Ulama.

Chairman of PBNU KH Yahya Cholil Staquf explained that the task force has been working to map out points that can be used as public kitchens to supply free nutritious food for students.

"We have also reported it to the President. He appreciates and continues to encourage it so that it will reach more broadly. He also has very progressive targets, and I think we feel obliged to help with all our might so that these targets can be achieved," Yahya said as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, February 3.

The chairman of PBNU, accompanied by Rais 'Aam PBNU KH Miftachul Akhyar and PBNU Secretary General Saifullah Yusuf, visited the Presidential Palace Complex to meet President Prabowo Subianto and directly submit the invitation to the peak of NU's 102nd Anniversary at Istora Senayan, Jakarta, Wednesday (5/2). During the meeting, President Prabowo and the PBNU leadership continued to discuss for approximately 2 hours.

Gus Yahya, Yahya Cholil Staquf's nickname, explained that all students assisted by NU Islamic boarding schools, which numbered 5 million people, were included in the government's MBG program targets.

"After being informed, we were informed by the Head of BGN (National Nutrition Agency) that all 5 million were included in the target of this MBG program. Don't let anything go too far, so now our task with the network we have is to identify which points can be placed in the centers of service or kitchens for the MBG," said Gus Yahya during a press conference.

The Free Nutrition Food Program (MBG) started simultaneously throughout Indonesia on January 6, 2025. On the first day of the MBG, there were 190 SPPGs operating to supply nutritious food for schools and posyandu in 26 provinces.

SPPG is a nutritional fulfillment service unit tasked with managing a soup kitchen that cooks and distributes free nutritious food for children, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers in the surrounding area. In operating the kitchen, SPPG is led by a head of SPPG assisted by a nutritionist and an accountant.

The number of SPPGs and free nutritious food recipients continues to increase every time. The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) announced that as of January 17, 2025, there were 238 SPPGs operating to meet Free Nutrition Food (MBG) in 31 provinces. From that number, the number of MBG beneficiaries also became 650,000 people.

The President is targeting the number of MBG recipients for the period January to April 2025 of 3 million children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers. Then, 6 million people in the period April 'August 2025, 15' 17 million people from August to September 2025. By the end of 2025, the President targets Free Nutrition Food to be enjoyed by 82.9 million people.