inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) supports the government's budget efficiency policy by changing the distribution pattern of the Free Nutritional Meals (MBG) program without reducing the benefits received by pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, toddlers (3B), and students.
BGN Vice Head Sony Sonjaya stated this in response to the 2026 BGN budget, which was set at IDR 268 trillion. According to him, this efficiency measure involves reducing MBG distribution from six days a week to five.
"The concept is that MBG is provided while students are at school. With this new pattern, meals will no longer be provided during holidays or during activities outside of school," said Sonny on Tuesday (5/26/2026).
Despite the adjustment in the distribution pattern, BGN confirmed that there will be no reduction in the nominal value of the food benefits received by program participants. The price remains IDR 10,000 per portion in Java and surrounding areas, and it will be adjusted to reflect the cost of staple foods in underdeveloped, frontier, and outermost (3T) areas.
Sony explained that the "bundling" scheme, or the provision of food packages for holidays, has also been discontinued. Previously, food packages for several days were provided at once during school holidays in the middle of the week.
"Now, that's no longer the case; this is a manifestation of our implementation of budget efficiency," he said.
Amidst budget efficiency, the BGN stated that the MBG Program remains a driver of the regional economy. Currently, there are 27,757 operational Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG) with a total of 62.5 million beneficiaries.
The total MBG operational budget reaches approximately IDR 942 billion per day. Of that amount, approximately IDR 128.9 billion is used for honorariums for approximately 1.28 million volunteers and SPPG workers.
In addition, approximately IDR 58.7 billion is allocated for operational costs such as purchasing mineral water, office supplies, personal protective equipment, electricity, water, transportation, and cleaning needs.
The largest portion of the budget also goes to the raw material supply chain, including rice, fish, chicken, egg, vegetable, and fruit traders, cooperatives, MSMEs, Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDes), and other suppliers in the regions.
BGN also explained that approximately IDR 166.5 billion per day is used to return the investment of foundation partners who build SPPG facilities and provide operational equipment.
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