The government had realized Rp134.2 trillion in funding for the Free Nutritious Meals (Makan Bergizi Gratis/MBG) program through August 31, 2026. The budget was used during the first eight months of the 2026 state budget (APBN) implementation to support the provision of nutritious meals for beneficiaries.
Finance Minister Suahasil Nazara presented the realization figures during the September 2026 edition of the APBN KiTa press conference at the Ministry of Finance Office in Jakarta on Friday. As of August, the number of MBG beneficiaries had reached 57 million people.
The program was delivered through 27,485 Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (Satuan Pelayanan Pemenuhan Gizi/SPPG) across various regions. The government continues to reorganize the program to ensure MBG implementation is better targeted and meets food safety standards.
Suahasil said the Ministry of Finance supports the ongoing reforms being carried out by the National Nutrition Agency (Badan Gizi Nasional/BGN). Coordination between the Ministry of Finance and BGN continues to improve the management and distribution of the program.
One policy receiving attention is the requirement for every SPPG to obtain a Hygiene and Sanitation Compliance Certificate (Sertifikat Laik Higiene Sanitasi/SLHS). The certification is intended to strengthen hygiene and food safety standards for meals provided to MBG beneficiaries.
SPPG units that have not met the SLHS requirements are also subject to the restructuring process. The government is closing SPPG units that do not have the required certificate while ensuring that services for beneficiaries continue without interruption.
BGN reforms also include reorganizing services in disadvantaged, frontier, and outermost regions (3T). SPPG units in 3T areas with high stunting rates are receiving special attention, including services for priority groups such as Islamic boarding school students, toddlers, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers.
In addition, the mechanism for determining beneficiaries has been changed. Beneficiary targets that were previously allocated through SPPG units have been transferred to BGN to optimize the MBG distribution process.
The government considers these adjustments necessary as the program’s coverage continues to expand. With the number of beneficiaries reaching tens of millions, strengthening service standards, targeting accuracy, and governance remains an important part of MBG implementation throughout 2026.
Fajar Santoso is a lifestyle and travel writer at RakyatPost who focuses on culture, tourism, modern living, and destination storytelling across Asia and beyond. With a passion for discovering unique experiences and local traditions, he creates engaging content that inspires readers to explore new places, lifestyles, and perspectives. His writing blends informative journalism with creative storytelling to deliver meaningful and reader-friendly travel and lifestyle coverage.
