MBG Regulations Targeted for Completion in Early November to Improve Implementation Quality
By: Benyamin S. Wardhana (*
The government continues to demonstrate a strong commitment to ensuring the sustainability and improving the quality of implementation of the Free Nutritional Meals Program (MBG), one of the national priority programs. With its extensive social and economic impacts, improving MBG regulations is a strategic step to ensure that every policy is effective, transparent, and provides optimal benefits to the community, especially the nation’s younger generation.
Coordinating Minister for Food, Zulkifli Hasan, stated that improving MBG regulations is crucial considering that the program targets up to 82.9 million beneficiaries throughout Indonesia. He explained that the government has agreed on three main regulations targeted for completion in early November: a Presidential Decree (Keppres) on the MBG Implementation Coordination Team, a Presidential Regulation (Perpres) on MBG Implementation Governance, and a Presidential Regulation on the Organizational Structure, Work Procedures, and Institutions of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN).
Zulkifli Hasan also revealed that the Presidential Decree The regulation establishing program coordination under the Coordinating Ministry for Food is planned to be issued after the completion of the Limited Coordination Meeting (Rakortas). This step is expected to strengthen cross-sector integration and clarify implementation mechanisms in the field. He added that the issuance of two other Presidential Regulations is also being prepared to strengthen oversight and ensure the smooth running of the MBG program. With these regulations, every stage, from planning, distribution, and evaluation, will have a more solid legal basis and technical guidelines.
From the legislative side, full support also comes from the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI). Netty Prasetiyani Aher, a member of Commission IX of the DPR RI, assessed that the MBG Presidential Regulation will be a crucial legal basis for more orderly and transparent program implementation and guarantee the quality of food distributed to beneficiaries. She hopes the finalization and dissemination of the MBG Presidential Regulation can be carried out quickly to ensure strong legal certainty for implementation in the field.
Netty believes that the substance of the Presidential Regulation should also include technical provisions, such as food production times in the kitchens of the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG). These regulations, she believes, are crucial for ensuring the quality, cleanliness, and freshness of food for beneficiary children every day. This step to strengthen regulations not only strengthens administrative aspects but also protects Nutritional quality and public health. With a clear legal framework, every implementer in the field has definite guidelines to ensure nutritious food is served safely and according to standards.
A similar view was expressed by nutritionist Mochammad Rizal, who believes the MBG Program has great potential to improve the nutritional status and health of Indonesian children. He believes that the policy needs to be continuously evaluated and refined to ensure its benefits are truly optimal as a long-term investment towards Indonesia Emas 2045. According to Rizal, in addition to improving health and nutritional status, the MBG is also expected to motivate children to be more enthusiastic about attending school. With bellies filled with nutritious food, concentration in learning improves and enthusiasm for learning grows.
Rizal added that the benefits of the MBG program are not only felt by students but also have a broad economic impact on local communities. The food supply chain, including farmers, fishermen, and local catering providers, is encouraged to increase their production and product quality. He believes that the policy limiting production to a maximum of 2,000 portions per food service unit, as stipulated in the new draft regulation, is an appropriate corrective measure. He believes this measure will reduce The workload of the Nutritional Food Provision Unit (SPPG) while minimizing food safety risks. The smaller the production scale, the easier it is to maintain food quality and hygiene standards.
The development of the MBG regulations also reflects the spirit of bureaucratic reform in the governance of national strategic programs. A clear organizational structure and the division of authority between institutions are expected to increase accountability and efficiency in budget use. Through strong regulations, monitoring can be carried out systematically, while impact evaluations can be conducted based on measurable data and nutritional indicators.
Relevant ministries and institutions will play an active role in ensuring policy alignment between the central and regional governments, particularly regarding food distribution, the provision of healthy kitchen facilities, and monitoring the nutritional quality of food. A collaborative, cross-sectoral approach between the government, the private sector, academia, and civil society will be key to the successful and sustainable implementation of the MBG.The government appears to understand that the success of the MBG program is measured not only by the number of food portions distributed, but also by the quality of the social impact it generates. With well-developed regulations, the implementation of the MBG program is expected to become a model for an effective social empowerment program, promoting equitable nutrition, while simultaneously increasing community productivity in the food sector.
As the MBG regulation is targeted for completion in early November, all parties need to support the government’s efforts to improve the program’s institutional design and working mechanisms. Public support, including from local governments, educational institutions, and local businesses, will be crucial in ensuring that this policy is implemented as intended. The MBG program is a concrete manifestation of the state’s presence in creating a healthy, intelligent, and productive generation. The regulatory improvements currently being finalized are not merely administrative steps, but part of a larger effort towards a stronger and more equitable national food and nutrition system.
Now is the time for all elements of society to unite in supporting the improvement of the MBG regulation. With transparent and high-quality governance, this program will be a crucial foundation for building a healthy, competitive, and sustainable future for Indonesia.
(* The author is a Public Policy Observer)
