Indonesia’s Free Nutritious Meals Program Reaches 57 Million Beneficiaries

Jakarta: Indonesia’s Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program had disbursed Rp153.2 trillion as of the end of September 2026, reaching 57 million beneficiaries through 27,486 Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG).

Finance Minister Suahasil Nazara said the government appreciates the various improvements made by the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) to strengthen the management of the MBG program.

“As for the Free Nutritious Meals program, it had reached 57 million beneficiaries by the end of September, with budget realization at Rp153.2 trillion. We appreciate the various improvements implemented by the National Nutrition Agency, which have made the program more orderly. Service units are now required to have certificates, and those found to be non-compliant have been shut down,” Suahasil said at a press conference on the state budget, known as APBN KiTa, in Jakarta, as quoted by Antara on Friday, October 9, 2026.

Suahasil said BGN continues to make improvements to optimize the distribution of MBG meals, including tightening hygiene and sanitation standards at every SPPG.

One of the measures is requiring SPPG to obtain a Hygiene and Sanitation Eligibility Certificate (SLHS). BGN has also shut down 1,276 SPPG that did not have the certificate.

The measures are part of efforts to improve service standards and ensure the MBG program is implemented in a more orderly manner.

BGN Adds 480 Nutrition Service Units in Remote Regions

In addition to improving service standards, BGN is reorganizing the implementation of the MBG program in disadvantaged, frontier, and outermost (3T) regions by adding 480 SPPG. The total consists of 211 independently operated partner units and 269 units in remote areas.

All additional SPPG are targeted to begin operating by the end of October 2026. BGN is also identifying beneficiaries to ensure that MBG meals are distributed more effectively and reach the intended recipients.

Suahasil said the Ministry of Finance would continue to support the various improvements being made by BGN. He said the MBG budget allocation would be adjusted to the program’s needs after improvements to
governance and distribution had been implemented.

“This will ensure that beneficiaries are better targeted and that the National Nutrition Agency can optimize MBG distribution. I understand that our colleagues at BGN are continuing to seek improvements, which is a good thing. The budget will follow suit. It will be adjusted to the amount needed, and we will provide the funding,” Suahasil said.

Through these adjustments, the government aims to support the implementation of MBG according to its needs while ensuring that assistance reaches the intended beneficiaries.

(Razaqa Hariz)