Jakarta. The government will prioritize Indonesia's most underserved regions as it begins rolling out around 13,000 Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) kitchens, with Highland Papua, Papua, and East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) first in line due to high stunting rates.

Coordinating Food Minister Zulkifli Hasan said the kitchens, officially known as Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG), will be completed in phases, with disadvantaged, frontier, and outermost (3T) regions receiving priority over other areas.

"We will prioritize disadvantaged regions with high stunting rates, such as Highland Papua, Papua, and NTT. Part of the 13,000 kitchens will be completed there first," Zulkifli, popularly known as Zulhas, told reporters at the Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs in Jakarta on Wednesday.

He said the phased rollout would be based on the urgency of each region's needs, allowing areas with severe stunting to receive the facilities sooner than other parts of the country.

Zulkifli also urged businesses and other partners involved in the MBG program to follow the government's implementation timeline and await further official announcements as authorities finalize the next phase.

"Those involved in this program should understand the government's announcement when it is issued," he said.

His remarks came after reports emerged that around 13,000 planned MBG kitchens could be left unfinished because of uncertainty over the program's next phase.

The reports, including concerns over kitchen development in 3T regions, prompted partners of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) to seek greater clarity from the government.

The government said the phased rollout is intended to keep the MBG program on track while ensuring regions with the most urgent nutritional needs receive priority.

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