By Alexander Royce)
The Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG) continues to demonstrate increasingly mature and measurable policy direction as part of the government’s broader strategy to build a strong foundation for a healthy Indonesian generation. Amid challenges related to food security, staple food price inflation, and persistent nutritional issues affecting segments of the population, the MBG policy—focusing on the 3B group of pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers—represents a strategic step that is not merely curative, but also preventive and visionary. The government is not simply distributing food; it is building a sustainable public health ecosystem grounded in prevention and designed to generate long-term impact on the quality of Indonesia’s human resources.
Member of the House of Representatives (DPR RI), Edy Wuryanto, emphasized that the 2026 MBG policy prioritizing the 3B group is a highly rational decision based on real societal needs. According to him, the early phase of human life is the most crucial period in determining an individual’s future health, intelligence, and productivity. By ensuring that pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers receive adequate nutritional intake, the state is making a profoundly fundamental social investment.
He also underscored the importance of involving local micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the MBG supply chain so that the program’s benefits are felt not only in terms of public health, but also in strengthening the people’s economy. This approach demonstrates that MBG does not stand alone as a social assistance initiative, but forms part of an inclusive economic development strategy that reinforces local production bases, creates jobs, and stimulates regional economies simultaneously.
This statement aligns with the view of the Deputy Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Sony Sonjaya, who affirmed that the 3B group is indeed the primary target of MBG due to its higher vulnerability to nutritional deficiencies. The government’s approach through BGN signals a shift in public policy paradigm—from reactive measures to preventive and promotive strategies. The state no longer waits for communities to fall into malnutrition or stunting conditions, but intervenes early to break the chain of health problems at their source.
In the context of national development, this policy forms part of a broader strategy to sustainably strengthen human resource quality. When young generations grow up healthy, productive, and intelligent, national competitiveness also rises. This reflects the government’s long-term development logic: preparing superior Indonesian human capital as the main foundation of national progress.
At the regional implementation level, the Acting Head of the Bangka Regency Health Office, Anggia Murni, recorded that thousands of individuals within the 3B group have received MBG services. This fact indicates that the program does not remain at the policy level, but is truly realized in public service practice. Local implementation demonstrates effective coordination between central and regional governments, reflecting the government’s seriousness in ensuring that national priority programs reach grassroots communities. The successful distribution of MBG services also illustrates the strengthening of primary healthcare systems that are increasingly adaptive and responsive to community needs. In the context of decentralization, this achievement shows that national policies can be concretely translated through sound and collaborative local governance.
The MBG 3B policy is also relevant to the national agenda of reducing stunting, strengthening household food security, and improving maternal and child health quality. The government consistently promotes cross-sector synergy among health, food, education, and economic sectors to ensure that policy impacts are holistic. The program does not stand alone; it is interconnected with other strategic initiatives such as strengthening local food systems, stabilizing staple food prices, and empowering MSMEs. Amid global uncertainties, such an integrated approach demonstrates that the government’s focus extends beyond macroeconomic growth to tangible improvements in people’s quality of life.
Furthermore, MBG 3B reflects a state that is tangibly present in the daily lives of its citizens. The state’s presence is not limited to regulatory frameworks, but extends to direct services that address fundamental needs. This approach strengthens public trust in government, as citizens directly experience the benefits of policy implementation. Public trust constitutes vital social capital in maintaining national stability and reinforcing social cohesion. From a development perspective, social stability built through welfare-oriented policies forms the foundation for sustainable economic growth.
With a well-directed policy design, concrete implementation, and cross-sector support, MBG 3B is not merely a social assistance program, but a comprehensive human development strategy. The government is building the foundation of a healthy generation that will become Indonesia’s backbone in the future. Investment in maternal and child nutrition today is an investment in the nation’s competitiveness tomorrow. Through these strategic steps, the direction of national development increasingly demonstrates a strong commitment to placing human quality at the center of progress. The government is not only constructing physical infrastructure, but also developing human infrastructure—an essential key to achieving an advanced, resilient, and globally competitive Indonesia.