National Nutrition Agency Changes Free Meal's Kitchen Partner Payment Scheme to Upfront Payment

April 22, 2025 | 09:14 am

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has altered the reimbursement scheme in the Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG) into upfront payments. Head of BGN Dadan Hindayana stated that BGN provides upfront payments to each Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) to carry out their duties. "Now all running SPPGs no longer use partner money, but use upfront payments that we send 10 days later," said Dadan at Plaza BP Jamsostek, South Jakarta, Monday, April 21, 2025.

Dadan ensured that the operations of all SPPGs now run on an upfront payment system. Without upfront payments, he said, operations at SPPGs should not proceed. 'If you now come to any SPPG, ask where the money is coming from, it definitely comes from the National Nutrition Body. Without upfront payments, operation is not allowed,' said Dadan.

Dadan revealed this in response to the recent turmoil at SPPG Kalibata, South Jakarta. Previously, SPPG Kalibata planned to take legal action after experiencing a loss of nearly Rp1 billion, precisely Rp975,375,000. Danna Harly Putra, the legal counsel, explained that his client named Ira Mesra, as a partner, had not received a single payment since the kitchen began operating in February 2025.

The legal action taken by Danna and his client involves civil lawsuits and filing a report to the police. "Therefore, against the foundation's actions that have not paid a single rightful amount to our client in implementing this Free Nutritious Meal, we will take legal action," said Harly during a press conference in Kalibata on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.

Harly and his client hope that this legal action will draw attention from the government to better oversee the implementation of the Free Nutritious Meal program. He also urges for periodic evaluations of this program to be conducted. 'So that incidents like this won't happen again. And we hope an avenue for MBG program complaints will be launched soon,' he said.

Harly detailed the nearly one billion rupiah loss based on about 65,025 portions cooked by Ira as a partner, carried out in two stages. He also revealed that from the beginning, his client was unaware of the price difference per portion of rice provided for early childhood education, kindergarten, and elementary school.

The breakdown for early childhood education, kindergarten, and elementary school grades 1 to 3, the price per portion is Rp13,000, while for grades 4 to 6, it's Rp15,000. Meanwhile, the contract stipulates that the cost per portion for all educational levels is Rp15,000.

Ira only found out about the price difference after the kitchen was already operational. However, she mistakenly served food for early childhood education, kindergarten, and grade 1 to 3 with portions priced at Rp15,000, while the price per portion for those levels should have been only Rp13,000. From that price, Harly said, she still received a deduction of Rp2,500 for each portion.

In addition to providing meals, Ira in this case also covered all operational costs. Starting from food ingredients, rent, electricity, kitchen equipment, to paying the cook.

M. Rizki Yusrial contributed to this article.

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