Risca Christina, the agency’s Bali coordinator, confirmed in Denpasar on Monday that her team will concentrate on inspecting kitchens—officially called Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG)—from March 18 to 30.
“During this holiday, we are focusing on SPPGs, aiming to improve and evaluate them so they are ready to resume operations and address shortcomings by March 31,” she said.
She added that the BGN will review kitchens’ compliance with wastewater management requirements after Nyepi (Silence Day), with inspections scheduled for March 20 or 21.
“We are now stressing the importance of wastewater processing installations in response to several reports,” Christina said.
The coordinator noted that the suspension is also intended to allow students and teachers to spend more time with their families, as they are not required to collect MBG meals at school during the break.
She further explained that the policy follows an instruction from the central government that has been adopted by local administrations. She noted that 195 SPPGs across Bali subsequently informed schools of the suspension.
“We have not received reports of any school expressing readiness to continue receiving MBG packages during the holiday,” she added, underscoring the sweeping temporary halt of the national priority program.
On that note, Christina highlighted that the BGN will pause the distribution of free meals for 444,483 program beneficiaries throughout the holiday season, including schoolchildren, breastfeeding mothers, pregnant women, and children under five.
She also confirmed that SPPGs will continue to receive budgets to prepare for the reopening on March 31.
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Translator: Ni Putu Putri, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Arie Novarina
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