Bakom States 61.9 Million People as Beneficiaries of MBG, Targeting 82.9 Million

JAKARTA - The Head of the Government Communication Agency (Bakom), Muhammad Qodari, revealed that 61.9 million people have become beneficiaries of the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme. “The number of recorded beneficiaries reaches 61,991,412 people or 74.8% of the total target of 82.9 million beneficiaries,” Qodari stated during a press conference at the Bakom Office of the Republic of Indonesia, Gambir, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday (13/5/2026). However, from that figure, only 55.42% of SPPG units possess Hygiene and Sanitation Certificates (SLHS) as of 12 May 2026. “The number of recorded SPPG units is 28,390 SPPG, with 15,795 SPPG or 55.42% of them having obtained SLHS certificates,” Qodari explained. The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) itself has temporarily suspended operations of 1,738 SPPG units, as they are deemed not to meet the established standards. Throughout 2026, a total of 3,615 complaints have been recorded regarding the implementation of one of President Prabowo Subianto’s priority programmes. The government emphasises that it will continue to conduct evaluations and improvements in the programme’s governance on a regular basis as a form of accountability. In the future, the MBG programme will also be expanded to target santri, pregnant mothers, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers in various regions across Indonesia. “The government is committed to strengthening the governance of MBG. Strengthening will be carried out from upstream to downstream,” Qodari said. Previously, President Prabowo Subianto stated that the government will continue the implementation of the MBG programme until completion. Prabowo mentioned that the MBG programme has currently successfully reached 60 million beneficiaries, distributed five times a week. He acknowledged that the implementation of MBG still has shortcomings. Nevertheless, the government is committed to making improvements. The presence of MBG has enabled agricultural products, which were previously often not absorbed by the market leading to losses for farmers, to now be purchased by SPPG units. “Our brothers and sisters have already produced tens of millions of MBG, and we will continue until completion,” Prabowo said during the Groundbreaking of 13 Downstreaming Projects Phase II in Cilacap, Central Java, on Wednesday (29/4/2026).