Head of BGN States MBG Distribution Adjusted to School Attendance Days

Jakarta – The Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Dadan Hindayana, stated that the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme will continue to be provided in line with the number of days students attend school, ceasing distribution during holidays. This statement addresses proposals for efficiency in the MBG programme by reducing meal provisions to five days per week, which is estimated to save the state budget up to Rp40 trillion per year. “Specifically for schoolchildren, MBG will be distributed if they attend school. If school is five days, they will receive MBG for five days, while if there is a school that operates six days, MBG will be given for six days. Based on existing data, the majority of schools operate for five days,” he said when confirmed by ANTARA via short message in Jakarta on Friday. Dadan emphasised that in 2026, BGN will focus on improving quality, in line with President Prabowo Subianto’s instructions, as one of the efforts to maintain the programme’s effectiveness. “The basis for MBG distribution is fresh ready-to-eat meals delivered to the beneficiary locations based on the registered lists. For pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers to posyandu or homes, while for students to their respective schools. For santri and other religious schoolchildren to their boarding places. If there is a holiday, then MBG distribution stops,” he explained. Previously, the Minister of Finance, Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, stated that efficiency in the MBG programme could save the state budget up to Rp40 trillion per year. This efficiency is planned by reducing the number of operational days. MBG provision is proposed to be five days per week from the previous six days. “Usually a week (MBG) is six days, he (the BGN Head) says five days. So there is also efficiency from MBG, there is quite a significant reduction. He said it could (save) Rp40 trillion a year,” said Finance Minister Purbaya. According to him, this step demonstrates BGN’s efforts in budget efficiency amid turbulent economic conditions due to global geopolitical conflicts.