MBG must prioritize poor communities in 3T areas: Minister

 The Coordinating Ministry for Community Empowerment emphasized the importance of targeted distribution for Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) beneficiaries so that it has a real impact on economic empowerment, especially in disadvantaged, frontier, and outermost (3T) areas.

"In improving the management of MBG distribution managed by the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), I remind the authorities to refer to Presidential Instruction 4 of 2025 concerning the National Socioeconomic Single Data (DTSEN)," the Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment Abdul Muhaimin Iskandar said here 

"It states that underdeveloped regions with extreme poverty must be prioritized," he added.

Through DTSEN data, the government has a strong basis to ensure that the most needed community groups are prioritized as program beneficiaries, he said.

In addition, the minister also reminded that the distribution of MBG must be in line with Presidential Instruction Number 8 of 2025 concerning the Acceleration of Poverty Eradication and the Alleviation of Extreme Poverty.

He said there were two important aspects that were directly related to the implementation of the program.

The first is that MBG beneficiaries must be prioritized for the poor and extreme poor.

Second, this program must be part of an economic empowerment ecosystem that involves low-income communities so that its benefits are not only felt as consumption assistance but also open up opportunities to improve welfare.

The minister expressed optimism that the governance improvements undertaken would further strengthen the success of the President's priority programs.

He believes that good intentions, proper governance, and strong leadership will be an important foundation in ensuring the program runs optimally.

Muhaimin Iskandar emphasized that one of the main focuses that must continue to be strengthened in the implementation of the MBG is the development of an ecosystem for community economic empowerment.

"One of the ecosystems we want to create is how this program can foster new businesses, stabilize prices, and provide numerous benefits," he said.

This program is expected to be able to drive economic turnover at the local level through the involvement of farmers, livestock breeders, fishermen, Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), and new entrepreneurs who are part of the food supply chain.