BGN: MBG Program to Keep Running Even on School Holidays

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Dadan Hindayana, confirmed that the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program will continue during school holidays, with adjustments to ensure students receive their meals.

"Since meals for schoolchildren are typically delivered to schools, all Nutrition Service Unit (SPPG) heads must collect data on how many students are willing to come to school during the holidays," Dadan said after attending a meeting at the Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs on Thursday, June 26.

If no students come to the schools, SPPG units will still produce MBG meals for other beneficiaries, including pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers. "Those meals are delivered directly to their homes," he added.

Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan reported that, as of June 2025, the MBG program has reached 5,560,648 beneficiaries. The BGN set a target of 6 million beneficiaries for this month, but Zulkifli, a National Mandate Party politician known as Zulhas, admitted the program is falling short. "We're a bit behind, with only 5 million reached so far," he said.

Zulhas announced that the government will soon issue a presidential regulation to accelerate MBG distribution, aiming to reach 82.9 million beneficiaries by December 2025. "Schools and kids shouldn't worry. Once the regulation is in place, we'll speed things up," he said, targeting completion of the regulation within the week.

He said that that the government has so far allocated Rp5 trillion of the planned Rp171 trillion budget for MBG. During discussions on the regulation, the government decided to cut the budget to Rp121 trillion. "We're ready to push forward to reach 82.9 million beneficiaries with the Rp121 trillion budget," Zulhas said.

The former trade minister explained that the budget reduction stems from challenges in implementation capacity. "We've only managed Rp5 trillion by June. We're now gearing up to accelerate distribution," he said.

Met separately, Dadan clarified that the budget cut reflects the government's ability to meet the 82.9 million beneficiary target before December 2025. "The program will require Rp25 trillion per month. I estimate we'll hit Rp82.9 trillion by November, so an additional Rp50 trillion will suffice," he told Tempo.

To boost distribution, Dadan said the government has identified potential beneficiaries in remote, border, and outermost regions. "We've finalized the list and will submit it in August," he said.

Editor’s Choice: Gerindra Chief Warns Prabowo's Ministers Against Being a "Burden"

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News

Indonesia Slashes Rp50tn from Free Nutritious Meals Outlay for 2025

1 jam lalu

Best 3 Family Activities for Dubai Vacation

3 hari lalu

Jakarta's Top 15 Educational Tourism Destinations for School Holidays

3 hari lalu

KCIC Offers Up to 50% Off Whoosh Tickets for School Holiday Travel

3 hari lalu

Waste Management Poses New Challenge for Prabowo's Free Meal Program

5 hari lalu

BGN: Free Nutritious Meal Program May Continue During School Holidays

6 hari lalu

BGN Dispels Rumors of Raw Ingredient Distribution for Free Nutritious Meal Program

7 hari lalu

Luhut Says Prabowo's Free Meal Program Helps Push Economic Growth to 8%

14 hari lalu

Indonesia Disburses Nearly Rp1,000tn for Small-Scale Economy, Says Minister

15 hari lalu

Whoosh Offers Up to 50% Ticket Discounts on School Holidays

17 hari lalu