By: Abdul Razak*
The Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) Program continues to demonstrate its role as a strategic government policy in improving the quality of Indonesia’s human resources. Not only does it focus on meeting the community’s nutritional needs, but it also garners widespread support from various groups, as it is seen as providing tangible benefits to children, families, businesses, and the regional economy.
The continued strengthening of community support is a key indicator that the MBG Program has gained strong social legitimacy. The presence of the community, parents of students, micro-business owners, nutrition service kitchen managers, and various communities supporting the program demonstrates that MBG is not just a government program but a collective movement to create a healthier, smarter, and more productive generation of Indonesians.
Lecturer in the Communication Science Doctoral Program at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Brawijaya University, Assc. Prof. Maulina Pia Wulandari, S.Sos., M.Kom., PhD, believes that public support for a policy is a crucial part of building public legitimacy. She believes that the presence of beneficiaries, parents of students, MSMEs, and MBG kitchen workers can be understood as a natural form of participation from the community who benefit from the program.
This community participation demonstrates that MBG has had a positive impact, directly felt in various regions. This program not only helps improve access to nutritious food for children but also creates new economic opportunities through empowering local businesses and creating jobs.
From an economic perspective, the sustainability of the MBG Program receives strong support from the State Budget (APBN). The Directorate General of Taxes at the Ministry of Finance emphasized that tax revenue is the primary source of funding for various national priority programs, including the Free Nutritious Meal Program.
Director General of Taxes, Bimo Wijayanto, stated that the consistently positive growth in tax revenue reflects the public’s real contribution to supporting various national development programs. The increased tax revenue performance provides the government with the opportunity to continue implementing priority agendas oriented towards improving public welfare.
As of mid-June 2026, tax revenue realization reached Rp940.31 trillion, representing a 23.4 percent increase compared to the same period the previous year. This achievement demonstrates an increasingly strong fiscal foundation in supporting various strategic government programs, including the MBG, which serves as a long-term investment in Indonesia’s human resource development.
In addition to community and government support, the MBG Program has also garnered support from businesses directly involved in its implementation. The Indonesian Association of Free Nutrition Kitchen Entrepreneurs and Managers (APPMBGI) affirmed its commitment to continuing to support the program, as it is considered crucial for the nation’s future.
APPMBGI Chairman Abdul Rivai Ras stated that MBG is a noble and strategic program that plays a crucial role in improving the quality of Indonesia’s human resources. He believes the program has a significant impact on supporting the growth and development of the younger generation while strengthening the social and economic resilience of the community.
APPMBGI also expressed its readiness to continue being a constructive partner with the government in ensuring the implementation of the MBG is increasingly efficient, transparent, and accountable. This support reflects business actors’ optimism about the sustainability of the program, which has benefited millions of people and opened up new economic opportunities across Indonesia.
The success of a public policy is determined not only by the size of the allocated budget, but also by the level of public acceptance and support. In this context, the MBG demonstrates positive developments because it is able to deliver benefits directly felt by the community and encourage the participation of various parties in its implementation.
This program demonstrates the government’s commitment to building a healthy and quality generation. Through continued strong public support, adequate fiscal support, and collaboration between the government and various stakeholders, the Free Nutritious Meal Program has a strong foundation for continued growth and broader benefits for the nation.
Going forward, the success of MBG is expected to contribute not only to improving the nutritional status of the community but also to become a crucial instrument in developing superior human resources capable of supporting the realization of an Advanced Indonesia. The continued growth of community support provides invaluable social capital to ensure the sustainability of this strategic program and its positive impact on future generations of Indonesia.
)* The author is a Policy Analyst