DPR Focuses on Governance Reform to Optimise Free Nutritious Meal Programme
Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) has pledged to address the various problems faced by partners in the Free Nutritious Meal Programme (MBG) by bringing all their aspirations to a working meeting with the National Nutrition Agency (BGN).
This commitment emerged during a Public Hearing (RDPU) between Commission IX of the DPR and the MBG Partners’ Presidium at the Parliamentary Complex in Jakarta on Tuesday (14/7/2026).
The RDPU, led by Deputy Chairman of Commission IX Yahya Zaini, was attended by representatives of six BGN partner organisations: the Indonesian Nutritious Food Entrepreneurs Association (Gapembi), the Indonesian Nutrition Food Association for Frontier, Outermost and Underdeveloped Regions (APGI 3T), the Golden Generation Kitchen Partners Association (HMD Gemas), the Indonesian National BGN Partners Association (AMBGNI), TKA NU, and the Indonesian Lovers Community Association (AMCI).
At the forum, partners raised numerous problems in the programme’s implementation, ranging from the moratorium policy and regulatory uncertainty to investment losses suffered by those on the ground. Gapembi Chairman Alven Stony stressed that all partners remain fully supportive of the MBG Programme as one of the strategic programmes of President Prabowo Subianto’s administration. However, its success must be underpinned by healthy, transparent governance that provides legal certainty to partners.
“We have not come to weaken the MBG Programme. On the contrary, we want to ensure this programme succeeds. That is why we ask Commission IX of the DPR to hold BGN to account so that it applies governance in a transparent and accountable manner and provides legal certainty for all partners,” said Alven.
He explained that thousands of partners have invested their own funds to build Nutrition Service Delivery Unit (SPPG) kitchens, recruit workers, and establish supply chains together with farmers, livestock breeders, fishermen and micro, small and medium enterprises. However, various policy changes have left partners facing uncertainty.
“Many partners pawned their assets, borrowed from banks and risked their family savings because they believed in a government programme. After the kitchens were built, a moratorium and policy changes emerged that left them without certainty,” he said.
According to Alven, partners’ positions have also not been equal to that of BGN. The government owns the programme, while all operational risks are borne by the partners.
“When payments are late, it is the partners who bear the burden. When problems arise in the field, the partners are the first to be blamed. Yet we are here to help the state make this programme a success,” he said.
He expressed hope that the RDPU would become a momentum to improve the governance of the MBG Programme without diminishing the government’s enthusiasm for raising the nutritional quality of the population.
During the RDPU, the MBG Presidium submitted six aspiration points to Commission IX of the DPR. These included asking the DPR to strengthen oversight of BGN, evaluate the moratorium policy, immediately bring into operation kitchens that have passed verification and have an SPPG Head as well as a virtual account, provide investment certainty, review Circular Letter of the Head of BGN No 12/2026, and ensure the programme’s implementation refers to Presidential Regulation No 115 of 2025.
APGI 3T Chairman Herwil J Harefa said the heaviest burdens are felt by partners in frontier, outermost and underdeveloped (3T) regions.
According to him, the cost of building kitchens in Papua, Mentawai and other island regions is far higher than in urban areas because of steep logistics costs.
“In Papua, the price of a single sack of cement can reach around Rp1 million. In Mentawai, many investors built kitchens, but they have still not begun operating. They are in fact the party most harmed, because from the outset they were willing to enter regions few others wanted to serve,” he said.
Beyond financial losses, partners highlighted regulatory uncertainty caused by inconsistent policy changes. They hope the government will provide legal certainty so that investments are not wasted.
The various aspirations received a positive response from members of Commission IX. Almost all factions support the continuation of the MBG Programme, but consider that its governance needs to be improved promptly so that neither the public nor the partners are harmed.
Charles Honoris, a Commission IX member from the PDI Perjuangan faction, said the problems raised by partners show there are still many weaknesses in the programme’s governance. “The state must deliver solutions, because the public and partners must not be the ones who lose out,” said Charles.
Netty Prasetiyani Aher, a Commission IX member from the PKS faction, said the MBG Programme is the government programme with the greatest public participation. Therefore, she said, any solution adopted by the government must accommodate all parties.
Commission IX member Irma Suryani Chaniago urged BGN to carry out a comprehensive evaluation of the programme’s governance, fight for the implementation of Presidential Regulation No 115/2025, and ensure that no policy harms the public or the partners.
A similar commitment was voiced by Commission IX members Obon Tabroni (Gerindra), Obet Rumbruren (PDI Perjuangan) and Zainul Munasichin (PKB). They assured that all aspirations submitted by the MBG Presidium would be discussed at a meeting with BGN on Friday.