National Nutrition Agency Halts Free Nutritious Meal Distribution During School Holidays

The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has altered the implementation scheme for the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme during the school holiday period. Unlike previous periods during Ramadan or school holidays, when MBG was still distributed through food packages or bundling, this time the distribution of MBG will be completely halted during the school holidays. The policy is stipulated in Circular Letter (SE) Number 12 of 2026 concerning the Adjustment of Operations for the Nutrition Fulfilment Service Unit (SPPG) during holiday periods in the context of implementing the MBG Programme for the 2026 Fiscal Year. Deputy Head of BGN and BGN Spokesperson Agustina Arumsari stated that the circular was issued on 17 June 2026 as part of an effort to reorganise the programme’s implementation. “This afternoon, we from BGN would like to convey that on 17 June 2026, BGN issued SE Number 12 of 2026 concerning the adjustment of SPPG operations during holiday periods in the context of implementing the MBG programme for the 2026 fiscal year,” Agustina said during a press conference at her office in Jakarta on Thursday (18/6/2026). According to her, the measure was taken to support the optimisation of operational governance, resource efficiency, and standardisation of programme implementation at the SPPG level. “So, this circular was indeed issued in the context of optimising operational governance, resource efficiency, and standardising the MBG programme at SPPGs,” she said. Agustina explained that the decision coincides with the school holiday period set by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) from 22 June to 13 July 2026. She noted that this policy differs from previous Ramadan or school holiday periods, when students on holiday still received MBG through a special mechanism. “You may still remember that in the previous period during Ramadan, even during holidays, there was a system for providing MBG, a bundling system and so on. For this time, the policy we have taken is that we are truly not distributing MBG with the intention of standardising operational governance and resource efficiency,” Agustina clarified. According to her, BGN wants to utilise the momentum of the school holidays to carry out improvements and reorganise the programme’s governance. “We at BGN want to reorganise and restructure, so we are taking the momentum of these school holidays,” she said. Head of the Public Relations and Leadership Administration Bureau of BGN, Hilda, added that the suspension of MBG distribution applies to various types of holidays, including semester breaks, national holidays, religious holidays, and weekends. “In the context of improving MBG management, distribution is suspended during holidays, even or odd semester school holidays, national holidays, religious holidays, special facultative holidays for local governments, as well as Saturday and Sunday holidays,” Hilda said at the same event. The temporary suspension of MBG distribution applies not only to students but also to non-student beneficiary groups, namely toddlers, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers. “The 3Bs are also on holiday. So the calculation applies to both student and non-student participants. The 3Bs are included in the non-student category,” she said.