BGN Halts Free Nutritious Meals During School Holidays, Claims Savings of IDR 3 Trillion

The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has temporarily halted the distribution of the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme during the school holiday period. The policy is outlined in Circular Letter Number 12 of 2026 concerning the Adjustment of Operations for Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG) during holidays.

BGN Deputy Chairperson Agustina Arumsari stated that the move is intended to optimise operational governance and resource efficiency. “For this occasion, the policy we have taken is to completely stop the distribution of MBG with the intention of standardising operational governance, achieving resource efficiency, and reorganising programme operations,” Sari said during a press conference at the BGN office on Thursday (18/6).

According to her, the policy was adopted in line with the government’s establishment of the school holiday period, which runs from 22 June to 13 July 2026. Unlike the previous Ramadan holiday period, which employed a bundled food package distribution mechanism, the agency has opted to cease all distribution during this holiday.

Previously, each SPPG received incentives of up to IDR 6 million per day even if it was not fully operational or the number of beneficiaries had not reached maximum capacity. “By not distributing MBG, all non-operational SPPGs will not receive incentives. That is the most important point,” she stated.

BGN records show there are currently 27,820 operational SPPGs. By withholding incentives for 18 days during the school holiday, the government estimates it can save more than IDR 3 trillion. “Looking at the number of operational SPPGs multiplied by the daily incentive over 18 days, we can achieve an efficiency of more than IDR 3 trillion. This is a quite significant figure,” she concluded.