TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The newly appointed Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Nanik S. Deyang, has revealed four key measures to improve the free nutritious meal (MBG) program. These include budget efficiency, reorganization of MBG facilities, and the expansion of services to frontier, outermost, and disadvantaged (3T) regions.
During her first press conference as the new BGN leader on Thursday, June 4, 2026, at the BGN office in Jakarta, Nanik said recent internal consolidation has resulted in four key prioritized agendas. "The main thing is we are moving towards budget efficiency," she said.
The agency budget, Nanik said, currently stands at around Rp26.8 trillion with budget cuts, thus future policies will focus on improving the program's effectiveness without culling the target beneficiaries.
Here are the four key measures BGN will implement going forward, according to Nanik:
1. Refocusing the free nutritious meal beneficiaries
The first measure to ensure the program will remain effective is ensuring the right people enjoy the free meals. Nanik signaled that BGN will stop pursuing mere quantity of beneficiaries, but will focus on improving the quality.
According to Nanik, the government will pay greater attention to groups deemed most in need of nutritional interventions, namely pregnant women, lactating mothers, toddlers, and elementary school children.
She mentioned that nutritionists and pediatricians involved with BGN have suggested focusing interventions on the first thousand days of life up to around nine years old. "The best nutritional intervention is from the first month of pregnancy to around nine years old, or up to elementary school. So, that's what we're aiming for," she explained.
2. Moratorium on new MBG kitchens
The pause on new public kitchens is aimed at reorganizing the distribution of facilities, which is currently deemed uneven. According to Nanik, MBG kitchens are concentrated in urban areas, while 3T regions still have minimal services.
"We will first sort this out. For example, in one district, six facilities are sufficient," she said, adding that BGN will reassess the ideal number of kitchens in each region before reopening new facility registrations.
3. Improvements on existing MBG kitchens
BGN will make sweeping evaluations on free nutritious meal kitchens to ensure food safety standards, food quality, and human resource capacity.
BGN will also provide training for kitchen managers. Kitchens failing to meet the standards may face temporary operational suspension.
4. Expand free meals to 3T regions
The last key measure listed by Nanik is expanding free meal distributions to 3T regions through a more flexible scheme that is less reliant on the state budget.
According to Nanik, BGN is currently exploring various alternative funding sources such as corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs, grants, and utilizing existing kitchen facilities in the regions.
Nanik believes that opening more facilities may not be the most efficient option in 3T regions due to the relatively small number of beneficiaries in some areas. "The key is not always to build new facilities," she explained.
Read: BGN Says It No Longer Prioritizes 82 Million Free Meal Recipients
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
BGN Says It No Longer Prioritizes 82 Million Free Meal Recipients
3 jam lalu
BGN plans to better target beneficiaries by reducing coverage in affluent schools and redirecting resources to underserved areas.
Prabowo Bans Omelets from MBG Menu
23 jam lalu
President Prabowo has instructed a change in the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) menu, banning omelets.
Why Did Prabowo Remove the BGN Head? Chief of Staff Explains
1 hari lalu
Presidential Chief of Staff explains Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto's removal of the Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN).
MBG Corruption: Three Former BGN Leaders Held in Separate Detention Centers
1 hari lalu
The prosecutor has detained three former officials of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) after they were named as suspects in the alleged corruption case of managing the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program for the period of 2025-2026.
Prabowo Thanks MBG Officers Across the Country
1 hari lalu
Prabowo expressed his gratitude for the dedication and devotion of the officers of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program.
MBG Corruption at BGN: SPPG Rigging to Price Mark-ups
1 hari lalu
Prosecutors revealed how former BGN Chief Dadan Hindayana and two retired generals rigged the MBG program.
Ex-BGN Chief Dadan Hindayana Named Corruption Suspect
1 hari lalu
The Attorney General's Office has named former BGN Head Dadan Hindayana and two retired generals as suspects in the MBG program corruption case.
Palace Audits Alleged MBG Kitchen Point Sales
1 hari lalu
State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi confirmed an internal audit into the alleged sale of Free Nutritious Food (MBG) kitchen points.
BEM UI Urges Total Review of MBG After Dadan's Dismissal
2 hari lalu
The Executive Board of the University of Indonesia's Student Body, or BEM UI, is urging for a comprehensive evaluation of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) project.
Prabowo's BGN Reshuffle Will Not Disrupt Free Meal Program, Palace Says
2 hari lalu
The change in National Nutrition Agency (BGN) leadership structure will not affect free nutritious meal (MBG) program implementation, says Palace.
