MBG Holidays During Eid Save Rp5 Trillion in Budget

Head of the National Nutrition Agency (Bappenas) Dadan Hindayana / ANTARA FOTO / Aditya Pradana Putra / nz

JAKARTA - The Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) Dadan Hindayana stated that the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) Program was on vacation during Eid al-Fitr and would save the budget by around Rp. 5 trillion.

"For the Eid al-Fitr, I need to convey to school children, the last distribution was yesterday, March 13, 2026. Well, then for pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers, the last is today. After that, we will celebrate Eid al-Fitr, and the MBG Program will be operational again on March 31, 2026, that is approximately Rp. 5 trillion saved in that way," he said after meeting with Attorney General ST Burhanuddin in Jakarta, Tuesday, March 17, reported by ANTARA.

Dadan also explained that on March 18-24, no MBG distribution was carried out for all target beneficiaries, both students and non-students. As a substitute, distribution was carried out earlier.

"The distribution was carried out on the last day of the previous distribution, namely on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in the form of one package of healthy food packaging plus three packages of healthy packaging for MBG allocation on Wednesday, March 18, 2026 to Friday, March 20, 2026," he said.

As a preventive step to prevent corruption cases against the MBG budget, BGN also partnered with the Attorney General's Office (Kejagung) by placing the Attorney General's Office for Intelligence (Jamintel) network.

This step was taken not to report MBG partners, but to try to ensure that those who manage the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) can work optimally, alert, and transparent in using the budget allocated from the state for the MBG Program.

"I also ask that there be a component from the Attorney General's Office that we assign to be one of the officials to strengthen the BGN at the center, the officials are two levels and up to now there is only one person, that's what I was talking to the Attorney General and Jamintel," he said.