JAKARTA \u2014 The government has responded to the controversy regarding\nthe classification of the Makan Bergizi Gratis (MBG, Free Nutritious\nMeal) programme budget within education spending.<\/p>\n
The dispute over MBG programme funding resurfaced following the\nIndonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) revealing 2026 State\nBudget data concerning education allocations.<\/p>\n
My Esti Wijayati, Deputy Chair of Commission X of the Indonesian\nHouse of Representatives from the PDI-P faction, stated that MBG funding\nfalls under the education budget allocation pursuant to the 2026 State\nBudget Law and the Presidential Regulation on detailed state budget\nallocations.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the annex to the state budget, which takes the form of a\nPresidential Regulation, it is clearly stated that the Rp 769 trillion\neducation budget includes MBG funding of Rp 223.5 trillion. This is\nofficial in the state budget annex document,\u201d said Esti during a press\nconference at the PDI-P Party School in Jakarta on Wednesday, 25\nFebruary 2026.<\/p>\n
On this basis, PDI-P disclosed state budget data to provide\nclarification so that party members and the public would receive\naccurate information.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince questions have begun emerging at the grassroots level, we felt\nit necessary to explain openly so that we convey the truth in accordance\nwith the data contained in the state budget,\u201d she stated.<\/p>\n
Adian Napitupulu, a Commission X member of the House of\nRepresentatives from the PDI-P faction, noted that provisions regarding\nMBG are stipulated in the Explanation of Article 22 of Law Number 17 of\n2025 concerning the 2026 State Budget.<\/p>\n
\u201cOperational funding for education provision, including nutritious\nmeal programmes at institutions involved in education provision, whether\ngeneral or religious,\u201d reads the regulation cited by Adian.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we do not obtain a complete understanding in the main body of\nthe law, we can find it in the explanation. The explanation states the\nabove,\u201d Adian said.<\/p>\n
According to Adian, this explanation is reinforced by Presidential\nRegulation Number 118 of 2025 on the detailed 2026 State Budget\nallocation, which designates funding for the National Nutrition Agency\n(BGN) of more than Rp 223 trillion.<\/p>\n
Details of the 2026 State Budget are contained in Presidential\nRegulation (Perpres) Number 118 of 2025 on the Detailed State Revenue\nand Expenditure Budget for the 2026 Financial Year.<\/p>\n
In this document, the education budget is found in Annex VI.<\/p>\n
It states that the total education budget is Rp 769.086.869.324.000,\ndistributed among numerous ministries and agencies.<\/p>\n
One agency receiving an allocation is the National Nutrition Agency\n(BGN), the body responsible for the MBG programme. The BGN allocation is\nlisted under item number 1.1.23 with an allocation of Rp\n223.558.960.490.000.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pdi-p-highlights-free-nutritious-meal-programme-in-education-budget-government-responds-1772241008", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }