Jakarta — The government continues to refine the Free Nutritious Meals Program (MBG) to increase service effectiveness while ensuring more efficient and targeted use of the state budget.
Improvements were made through strengthening governance, adjusting operational mechanisms, and enhancing oversight at various levels. These steps are expected to maintain the quality of program implementation while supporting savings in the State Budget (APBN).
Muhammad Qodari, Head of the Indonesian Government Communications Agency (Bakom), stated that the government’s evaluation results indicate the potential for significant budget savings. He stated that efficient implementation of the MBG is estimated to save the state budget approximately Rp1 trillion per month.
“According to a recent report or meeting at the Coordinating Ministry for Food, estimates suggest that savings of approximately IDR 1 trillion per month could be achieved. This translates to annual savings of IDR 12 trillion,” Qodari said.
These efficiency efforts were pursued through a number of measures, including a moratorium on the formation of new Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG), a recalculation of incentives, and a refinement of beneficiary targeting. The government also simplified the procurement process and strengthened the monitoring system to increase accountability in program implementation.
In addition to reducing potential waste, the government is encouraging the use of local food to reduce distribution costs while simultaneously providing economic benefits to local communities and businesses.
In line with this initiative, the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) is restructuring beneficiary groups to ensure nutrition interventions are delivered to those most in need. The program focuses on pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, toddlers, and young children as priority groups.
Deputy Head of BGN Agustina Arumsari said that the arrangement of beneficiaries is part of efforts to strengthen overall program governance.
“Following a meeting with Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives in Jakarta, we reorganized the beneficiary list. The National Service Agency (BGN) will focus on managing the SPPG,” said Agustina.
Through these various improvement measures, the government hopes that the MBG Program can run more effectively, accountably, and sustainably in supporting improvements in the quality of community nutrition.