Andi Adam Faturahman, Jakarta – Indonesia's Free Nutritious Meals program, known as Makan Bergizi Gratis (MBG), marked its first year on January 6, 2026.
Launched by President Prabowo Subianto's administration, the flagship initiative aims to provide daily nutritious meals to schoolchildren, pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, and the elderly.
The government targets 82.9 million beneficiaries by March 2026. According to the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), the program currently operates 19,188 Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG) kitchens nationwide, serving around 55.1 million people each day.
As MBG expands, several civil society groups have raised concerns over its budget, governance, and long-term impact.
Education budget under pressure
Indonesia's Education and Teachers Association (P2G) has warned that the MBG program is drawing heavily on Indonesia's national education budget. In the 2026 state budget, education spending reached Rp757.8 trillion, but around 44.2 percent, or Rp334.9 trillion, was allocated to fund MBG.
According to P2G advocacy head Iman Zanatul Haeri, the allocation has delayed School Operational Assistance (BOS) funds and teacher salary payments, particularly in remote regions.
"Many teachers are struggling," he said.
BGN head Dadan Hindayana said funding decisions fall under presidential authority, arguing that MBG qualifies as education spending because its main beneficiaries are students.
He also claimed the program has improved school attendance and learning enthusiasm.
SPPG accreditation policy questioned
The Center of Economic and Law Studies (CELIOS) has criticized BGN's accreditation system for SPPG kitchens, which classifies facilities into A, B, and C grades.
BGN says the policy is intended to improve service quality and kitchen standards. However, CELIOS researcher Bahkrul Fikri argued that accreditation does not address fundamental governance problems within the program.
He also raised concerns over the lack of transparency and the use of assessors from a single institution.
"If quality improvement is the goal, assessments should reflect feedback from beneficiaries, not just kitchen operators," Bahkrul said.
Corruption risks in accreditation
Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) has warned that the accreditation system carries corruption risks. ICW advocacy coordinator Egi Primayogha questioned the appointment of assessors without open tender processes.
"In government procurement, assessors should be selected through transparent mechanisms. Direct appointments create wide opportunities for corruption," he said, urging BGN to publicly explain its selection process.
Health budget reallocation raises alarm
Beyond education funding, MBG has also affected the health budget. Of the Rp335 trillion allocated to MBG in 2026, Rp24.7 trillion came from reallocations across sectors, including health.
MBG Watch member Galau D. Muhammad said the reallocation was carried out without a proper assessment of the program's effectiveness.
He warned that diverting health funds could result in lost benefits estimated at Rp404 trillion, arguing the money could be more effectively used for targeted health interventions such as stunting prevention.
As MBG enters its second year, analysts say transparent evaluation and policy adjustments will be essential to ensure the program delivers lasting nutritional and social benefits.
– Dinda Shabrina and Ervana Trikarinaputri contributed to the writing of this article.