Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – Indonesia's National Nutrition Agency (BGN) prepares incentives of Rp5 million for regional implementers who successfully create positive and viral content about the Free Nutritious Meal program (MBG). BGN states that this step is part of the public communication strategy to counter hoaxes and strengthen public trust in the government's flagship program.
Nanik Sudaryati Deyang, Deputy Head of BGN, stated that fast and accurate public communication is key to maintaining the credibility of the institution amid the deluge of misinformation on social media. 'We must not be slower than hoaxes. Regional coordinators and area coordinators must be official sources of information and quickly clarify issues in the field,' Nanik said when opening the Coordination and Socialization Meeting for the Implementation of the MBG Program in Jakarta, Monday, October 27, 2025.
Nanik believes that the abundance of negative news about MBG arises due to the slow response from regional implementers. She emphasized that BGN's regional and area coordinators must take the lead in disseminating educational information.
'We want every regional coordinator and area coordinator not only to perform administrative tasks but also to be able to package nutritional messages into narratives that are motivating and build public optimism,' she said.
As part of the communication strategy, BGN encourages every region to establish an official social media account to showcase the positive aspects of the program. From kitchen activities, menu items, to stories of the economic changes of the participants. According to Nanik, such content effectively strengthens public trust and demonstrates BGN as a transparent and inspiring institution.
At the coordination meeting attended by hundreds of representatives from regional implementers across Indonesia, Nanik emphasized that public communication is a key element to the success of MBG. She hopes that the collaboration between the government, regional implementers, and the community can ensure that child nutrition information is conveyed quickly, accurately, and has a positive impact on the national image of the program.