BGN Stop MBG During School Holidays, Budget Efficiency Rp3.4 Trillion

JAKARTA - The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) claims to be able to save up to Rp. 3.4 trillion in the budget by temporarily stopping the distribution of the Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG) during the school holidays.

The termination is in accordance with Circular Letter Number 12 of 2026 concerning the Adjustment of the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) during the holiday period in the implementation of the free nutritious meal program (MBG) in the 2026 fiscal year. Through this rule, MBG services are not provided during the holiday period.

"And if we look at the number of SPPGs that have been operating 27,820 multiplied by the incentive per day for 18 days, then we can already carry out SPPG incentive efficiency of IDR 3,004,560,000,000," said Agustina in a press conference at the BGN office, Thursday, June 18.

Agustina said the temporary suspension of MBG services during the school holidays was carried out to improve the governance of the program and increase the efficiency of the use of state funds.

"So this circular was issued in order to optimize operational governance, resource efficiency, and standardization of the MBG program at SPPG," said Agustina.

According to him, the policy was taken in line with the school holidays set by the Ministry of Education on June 22 to July 13, 2026. Unlike the previous period during Ramadan, when MBG was still distributed through the bundling system, this time BGN decided to stop distribution during the holiday period.

"Well, for this time the policy we have taken is that we really do not distribute MBG with the intention of standardizing operational governance, resource efficiency," he said.

Agustina explained that the momentum of the school holidays was used by BGN to restructure the governance of the MBG program, which is currently continuing to grow. "BGN wants to do governance again, re-arrange so that it takes the momentum of the school holidays," he said.

One of the important points in the circular is the termination of incentives to SPPGs that do not operate during the holiday period. Until now, each SPPG has received an incentive of IDR 6 million per day, including for units that have not served beneficiaries in full.

"In this circular it is emphasized that by not distributing MBG, all SPPGs that are not operating will not receive incentives. Well, that's the bottom line that is important, yes," said Agustina.

Agustina emphasized that the termination of services applies to all MBG beneficiaries, both students and non-student groups such as pregnant women, nursing mothers, and toddlers.

"Yes, so that is the calculation for students and non-students. If 3B is included in non-students," he said.