BGN Defends Rp5.7B Budget for Free Meals Program Amid National Expansion and Oversight Calls

BGN Defends Rp5.7 Billion Zoom Budget for Free Meal Program The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has defended its allocation of Rp5.7 billion for Zoom licenses to support Indonesia’s Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program, stating the expenditure is essential for monitoring and coordination across thousands of meal preparation sites nationwide. BGN Deputy Head Sony Sonjaya emphasized that the digital infrastructure enables real-time oversight of the program’s implementation, particularly as it expands to reach vulnerable groups including pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers. He noted that the BGN has reminded all partners and Nutritional Fulfillment Service Units (SPPGs) that nutritional interventions should prioritize these groups before reaching students, in line with President Prabowo Subianto’s directive to focus on malnourished children. As of early 2026, over 27,000 SPPGs have been established across Indonesia to support the MBG program’s rollout. These units are responsible for meal preparation and distribution at the local level, operating under BGN guidelines to ensure nutritional standards are met. The agency also reported progress in hygiene certification efforts, with the Ministry of Health accelerating assessments for approximately 26,000 MBG kitchens to ensure food safety compliance. This initiative aims to address earlier concerns about food poisoning incidents linked to the program in certain regions. Sonjaya added that public awareness of proper nutrition has improved significantly since the program’s launch, with increasing attention being paid to balanced diets containing carbohydrates, proteins, fiber, and vitamins across both rural and urban areas from Aceh to Papua. The BGN maintains that the MBG program’s broader goal extends beyond food distribution to shifting public mindsets about nutrition, asserting that sustainable impact requires behavioral change alongside meal provision. After more than a year of implementation, the agency observes growing public engagement and notes that the program is contributing to local economic growth through increased demand for locally sourced ingredients.