By: Aulia Permatasari
The public needs to support and ensure the sustainability of the Free Nutritional Meals Program (MBG) as a crucial investment for the nation’s future. Amidst circulating information suggesting the program’s termination, the government has assured that the MBG remains operational and continues to be strengthened through improved governance, increased oversight, and adjustments to the implementation system to ensure its benefits are equally accessible to all Indonesian children.
The issue of the Free Nutritional Meals Program being discontinued in several schools has raised questions among the public. However, the government, through the Government Communications Agency (Bakom), emphasized that this information does not reflect the actual situation on the ground. The program, a priority for improving human resource quality, is still operating normally and continues to provide services to beneficiaries across Indonesia.
The Head of Bakom, Muhammad Qodari, explained that the government is not terminating the program, but rather imposing a temporary moratorium on the construction of new Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG), which are still in the preparation stage. This policy was taken after a comprehensive evaluation of the program’s governance and implementation to ensure the entire process is more effective, efficient, and on target.
According to Muhammad Qodari, all ongoing MBG activities in schools are continuing as planned. Beneficiary students are still receiving nutritious meals according to the established schedule. Therefore, the public is asked not to equate the cessation of new facility construction with the termination of the program as a whole, as the two are distinct entities.
Muhammad Qodari also believes that the perception of the MBG cessation may have been triggered by the overlapping timing of the moratorium on new kitchen construction and the adjustment of operational budget distribution for several existing SPPGs. This situation has given rise to misunderstandings in the public sphere, even though the government is actually strengthening the program’s implementation system to optimize it.
He explained that the government’s evaluation process aims to ensure that every policy and budget allocation truly provides maximum benefits to the community. A national-scale program like the MBG requires a mature management system to operate sustainably and reach all target groups fairly and equitably.
Regarding the duration of the moratorium on new SPPG construction, Muhammad Qodari stated that the decision will be made based on the results of a study and evaluation conducted by the National Nutrition Agency. The government wants to ensure that any new facility construction is truly based on real needs on the ground and does not result in wasted state funds. The Head of the National Nutrition Agency, Nanik S. Deyang, previously explained that the moratorium on the construction of new SPPGs is part of the government’s commitment to comprehensively improve the governance of the MBG Program. In addition to evaluating the number of kitchens needed, the government is also adjusting beneficiary data and improving existing kitchen facilities to improve services to the community.
Nanik S. Deyang emphasized that the program’s primary goal is to ensure all Indonesian children have access to nutritious food, not simply by increasing the number of kitchens or other supporting facilities. According to her, the program’s success should be measured by the breadth of beneficiary reach and the quality of services provided, rather than by the amount of infrastructure built.
This approach is considered more effective in maintaining budget efficiency while ensuring equitable distribution of benefits to all. Building too many kitchens without considering real needs has the potential to increase operational costs and reduce the effectiveness of program implementation on the ground.
More broadly, this policy demonstrates the government’s focus not only on accelerating program implementation but also on its sustainability and quality. This approach is crucial for the MBG Program’s long-term sustainability and providing tangible benefits for future generations. Over the past year, the government has also recorded various achievements in human development and public welfare. Food prices have remained relatively stable, various social protection programs continue to operate, and attention to improving the quality of education and health has been strengthened. Amidst various global economic challenges, the government continues to prioritize human resource development.It is a top priority.
The MBG program is a crucial instrument in this effort because it is directly linked to improving children’s nutritional quality and reducing stunting rates. This program not only provides health benefits for students but also supports learning activities and improves the quality of the nation’s future generations.
Ultimately, the government’s ongoing reforms should be viewed as strengthening and refining the program, not as a reduction in its commitment to meeting the community’s nutritional needs. Public support, joint oversight, and the dissemination of accurate information will be key to the success of the Free Nutritious Meal Program. With the cooperation of all parties, this program is expected to produce a healthy, intelligent generation of Indonesians who are ready to face future challenges.
*) Observer of Government Program Governance