January 24, 2026 | 01:31 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Institute for Demographic and Affluence Studies (IDEAS) assesses that the implementation of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program is misdirected due to its design as a universal program. This scheme causes the state budget to flow toward densely populated areas that relatively do not face child nutrition problems.
In its latest policy brief published on Friday, January 23, 2026, IDEAS noted that approximately two-thirds of MBG beneficiaries are concentrated in Java and Sumatra, particularly in agglomeration regions such as Bogor, Bekasi, Tangerang, and Bandung. However, these areas maintain relatively high animal protein consumption and low food expenditure ratios.
"The design of MBG as a universal program reflects political and electoral interests rather than health and economic urgency," said IDEAS researcher Yusuf Wibisono in the policy document.
IDEAS believes that areas outside Java with low nutritious food consumption, such as Yahukimo, Southwest Sumba, and the Aru Islands, are in greater need of state intervention. However, these regions receive only a small portion of the free nutritious meal program.
Consequently, IDEAS suggests that the government revamp the MBG design into a geographically targeted program to ensure greater effectiveness and fairness. According to Yusuf, the highly centralized implementation of the MBG program is considered to cause high costs and low benefits for the children. IDEAS mentioned that only about 63 percent of the MBG budget actually reaches the beneficiaries' meals.
Out of the MBG budget allocation in the 2026 State Budget amounting to Rp267.4 trillion, around Rp85.2 trillion is estimated to be spent on operational costs and equipment rental for the Nutrition Fulfillment Implementation Unit (SPPG). These program costs reach 37 percent, far exceeding the standard for non-profit programs, which generally ranges from 15-20 percent.
Additionally, IDEAS noted that the value of meals received by students is often below Rp10,000 per serving, even falling as low as approximately Rp6,000. This situation is worsened by alleged rent-seeking within the free nutritious meal implementation chain.
IDEAS recommends the decentralization of the free nutritious meal program implementation by positioning schools, school committees, and parents as the primary implementers under local government supervision. This scheme is considered likely to reduce costs, promote local food, and improve the quality of food nutrition.
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