DPR's Criticism And Evaluation Are Crucial For The Effectiveness Of The MBG Program

The photo archive - Students are preparing to eat free nutritious food at SDN Sirahcai, Jatinangor, Sumedang Regency, West Java, Monday (18/11/2024). BETWEEN PHOTOS/Raisan Al Farisi/Spt/aa.

JAKARTA - The implementation of the Free Nutrition Food (MBG) program has received criticism from Commission IX of the DPR because it is distributed in the form of raw materials such as basic food assistance programs.

Political Communication Analyst Silvanus Alvin, assessed that criticism from the DPR, especially Commission IX in partnership with the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), was very strategic and crucial.

Moreover, MBG is a major program and has a large budget so it needs to be evaluated periodically with the DPR.

"In the context of implementing strategic policies such as MBG, the statement made by members of Commission IX of the DPR is of course important to the attention of the Government that MBG as the main program and large budget needs to get periodic evaluations with the DPR," said Silvanus Alvin, Thursday, June 19.

"This periodic evaluation is to ensure the effectiveness and accountability of the program. Commission IX can be a strategic partner in ensuring that nutritional equitable programs such as MBG really reach people who need it and are implemented according to their original goals," he continued.

Alvin emphasized the importance of transparency in the implementation of the MBG program evaluation. If necessary, he said, every meeting must be held openly so that it can be covered by the media.

"Don't let the narrative become tilted that the current practice of MBG is no different from the basic food assistance program as feared by the DPR. Even though the quality and impact of MBG is strongly believed to be positive by President Prabowo," he said.

Alvin assessed that good synergy between the government and the DPR is an important key in maintaining consistency and effectiveness in the implementation of the MBG program. According to him, this synergy needs to be considered, especially since the provision of MBG raw material models has never been communicated with Commission IX of the DPR.

"Through the collaboration between the government and the DPR, it is hoped that there will be a final scheme that can be passed on to the public and received well. There should not be a different narrative, because in today's era, the public can easily be confused, let alone misunderstood," explained Alvin.

"Don't let President Prabowo's good intentions get twisted and lose public legitimacy due to a non-uniform narrative," he continued.

Alvin said, there needs to be anticipation of potential problems that arise in the field if the implementation is not in sync with the central policy.

Because he said, when implementers in the field distribute aid in the form of raw materials without synchronizing with central policies, it is feared that there will be many questions in the minds of the public.

"Judging from the political homework side, public policy not only needs good intentions, but also a clear and consistent narrative. This also has the potential to cause a narrative that states do not come in full for the people," he said.

"The government's main principle needs to eliminate confusion in the people who feel the benefits of the MBG program. Here, the government, regardless of BGN and SPPG, is important to have a unified narrative or uniform message," continued Alvin.

Previously, Member of Commission IX of the House of Representatives, Nurhadi, highlighted the provision of MBG in the form of food packages, which were considered the same as the program for distributing basic necessities. According to him, this needs to be evaluated because it is not in accordance with the objectives of the MBG.

"I understand the good intentions of the MBG program which aims to improve the nutrition of the community. However, when its implementation creates public confusion, especially because aid is distributed in the form of raw materials without clear technical instructions, we need to evaluate it thoroughly," said Nurhadi, Thursday, June 19.

"If it's like this, we should ask, is this MBG program really in favor of the community or just canceling obligations? Because it's the same as a basic food distribution program that has also been run by the Government," he continued.