BGN Implements Efficiency Measures, Free School Meals Suspended During School Holidays

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA – The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has begun adjusting the distribution pattern of the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme as part of government budget efficiency measures. However, BGN assured that the efficiency measures would not reduce service quality or nutritional provision for beneficiaries.

Sony Sonjaya, Deputy Head of BGN’s Operational Nutrition Department, said the adjustment involves changing the MBG distribution from six days to five days per week, aligned with school operational days.

‘We support the budget efficiency measures. One form of BGN’s support is changing the MBG distribution pattern from six to five days,’ he stated on Tuesday (26/5/2026).

According to Sony, the policy is implemented to make MBG distribution more effective and targeted, ensuring it meets the actual needs of beneficiaries on the ground.

He explained that future MBG distribution will focus only when students are present at school and actively engaged in learning activities. This means students will no longer receive MBG during school holidays.

‘The concept is that MBG is provided when students are at school. Therefore, if students are on holiday or engaged in activities outside school, MBG will not be provided,’ he said.

In addition to adjusting distribution days, BGN has also discontinued the meal bundling system. Previously, this system was applied when mid-week school holidays occurred, with meals for the holiday days distributed earlier in takeaway packages. However, this scheme has now been officially discontinued.