DPR: Five-Day-a-Week Free Nutritious Meal Programme Already Efficient, Urges School Oversight of Menus

The House of Representatives (DPR) has given a positive assessment of the National Nutrition Agency’s (BGN) efforts to streamline the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme, including the policy of distributing meals five days a week. The policy is considered effective as student activities are centred on these five days, with no distribution on holidays. This efficiency measure is expected to maintain the programme’s sustainability while ensuring its circular economic impact remains intact. The DPR’s Budget Committee (Banggar) is also pushing for improvements in the governance of raw material procurement and the strengthening of food quality and staffing budgets within the Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG). Furthermore, the DPR has requested that schools exercise control over SPPG services, specifically regarding the quality of the food menus provided. The DPR assesses the success of the MBG programme through the fulfilment of children’s nutrition as a long-term investment. The programme is also deemed successful when it can drive MSMEs and boost employment, consequently helping to reduce the Gini ratio.