BGN Announces Suspension of Free Nutritious Meals During School Holidays, Efficiency Saves Rp3 Trillion

The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has announced it will not implement the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme during holiday periods. The decision is set out in BGN Head Circular Number 12 of 2026 concerning Operational Adjustments for Nutrition Service Units (SPPG) during Holiday Periods in the Implementation of the MBG Programme for the 2026 Fiscal Year. BGN Deputy Head Agustina Arumsari stated the policy is being applied to achieve efficiency in the MBG programme. Consequently, during the school holidays from 22 June to 13 July 2026, the BGN will not serve the MBG programme to any beneficiaries, including the group of pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers. This policy differs from previous arrangements, when MBG was provided in bundled form to beneficiaries during holidays. “For this occasion, the policy we have taken is that we truly will not distribute MBG, with the intention of standardising operational governance and resource efficiency,” she said during a press conference at the BGN Office on Thursday (18/6/2026). She added that the agency will also not provide the incentive of Rp6 million per day during the holiday period, as the SPPGs will not be operating the MBG programme. According to Arumsari, the policy will result in savings on the operational costs of the MBG programme. She noted the budget that can be saved from this policy is estimated to reach Rp3 trillion. “If we look at the number of SPPGs that have been operating, 27,820, multiplied by the daily incentive over 18 days, we can achieve SPPG incentive efficiency of Rp3,004,560,000,000. A considerable figure,” she said. The circular specifies that MBG will not be distributed on holidays, encompassing even/odd semester school breaks, national holidays, religious holidays, special facultative local government holidays, as well as Saturdays and Sundays. The detailed rules in the circular are as follows: 1. No MBG service for student and non-student beneficiaries during holiday periods. 2. During holiday periods, security personnel continue to perform duties 24 hours a day in shifts according to established schedules. 3. During holiday periods, SPPG facility incentives are not provided. 4. Use of all SPPG facilities for any purpose during holiday periods is prohibited. 5. Violations of point 4 will be strictly sanctioned, up to the cessation of SPPG operations. 6. Financing of operational needs during holiday periods, such as electricity, water, internet access, and security personnel incentives, uses operational funds on an at-cost basis (real and as needed) from the operational budget allocation. 7. During holiday periods, all SPPG Heads, Nutrition Supervisors, and Finance Supervisors must continue to report and work to ensure SPPGs remain orderly, clean, and safe. 8. Specifically for holiday periods longer than three days, one day before SPPG operational activities resume, the SPPG Head, Finance Supervisor, Nutrition Supervisor, and volunteers are required to report and work to ensure SPPG operational readiness. 9. Volunteer incentives under point 8 use operational funds on an at-cost basis. 10. This Circular covers Special Regional Holidays established by the Regional Head.