Free Nutritious Meal Programme in West Bandung Halted, Parents Asked to Prepare Children's Lunch
Students in West Bandung Regency, West Java, are temporarily not receiving the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme after the operations of several Nutrition Service Fulfilment Units (SPPG) were halted. The suspension occurred because the budget from the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has not yet been disbursed.
According to data from the Bandung Regional Nutrition Fulfilment Office (PPG), around 40 MBG kitchens in the West Bandung area will cease operations up to 8 June 2026.
“As of yesterday, around 40 SPPG in West Bandung were recorded as having stopped operations because the budget from BGN has not been disbursed,” said the Head of the Bandung Regional PPG Office, Ramzi, on Tuesday (9/6).
Ramzi explained that the 40 SPPG units halting operations are separate from MBG kitchens that previously experienced technical or administrative problems.
Aside from budget constraints, several MBG kitchens in West Bandung also remain shut because they do not yet meet infrastructure standards. Some of them lack adequate Wastewater Treatment Installations (IPAL).
“From the previous dozen or so suspended SPPG, there are now six remaining. Four SPPG are suspended due to IPAL issues, while two others are still in the process of follow-up on spot check results,” Ramzi said.
Meanwhile, the temporary halt of the MBG programme means parents must prepare packed lunches for their children attending school. “The school has asked parents to temporarily provide their own packed lunches for their children until the MBG programme resumes,” said Nia Koswara, a parent of a student at RA Mustika Lembang.
Nia stated she had received information about the halt in MBG distribution to schools. According to her, the notification and the programme suspension occurred on the same day.
“The notification and the suspension were done on the same day. There has been no information on how long the programme will be halted, they only said there will be a replacement kitchen later,” she said.