BGN Chief on Rp240 Trillion Budget: 97 Percent for Free Nutritious Meals Programme

Jakarta – The Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Sudaryono, has spoken out about the budget allocation for the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme in 2027, which amounts to Rp240 trillion. He stated that 97 percent of the total budget allocation will be used for the MBG programme itself.

Meanwhile, Sudaryono said the remaining three percent, or around Rp6 trillion, will be used for operational costs.

“We have already discussed why the 2027 MBG budget is Rp240 trillion, how the plan will work and so on. We brainstormed with the Finance Minister,” said Sudaryono after meeting Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa at the Ministry of Finance office on Friday, 28 August 2026.

“So if I am not mistaken, around 97 percent of what is allocated for BGN operations is for the food programme. For BGN’s own operations, it is actually only about 3 percent of the budget. If you multiply 3 by 240, that is around Rp6 trillion,” he continued.

The discussion on the 2027 MBG budget was one of the topics covered by Sudaryono and Purbaya during the meeting.

In addition, the two also discussed the implementation of MBG in 2026, including improvements to governance and financial reporting for the programme.

BGN plans to integrate the Eksis system at the Ministry of Finance with BGN’s own National Nutrition Fulfilment Information System (SIPGN). The integration is intended to ensure that financial reporting at the MBG kitchen level is no longer done manually.

BGN will also provide training to SPPG heads and accountants at MBG kitchens so they can report through the system and comply with financial oversight requirements.

On the other hand, BGN is currently restructuring the SPPGs that run the MBG programme. Of the 27,485 SPPGs, 27,022 have been designated to serve schools receiving MBG.

It was previously reported that Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa said the budget for the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme in 2027 would increase to around Rp240 trillion, compared with Rp229 trillion allocated in 2026.

“Around Rp240 trillion for MBG,” he said at a press conference on the Draft State Budget (RAPBN) and Financial Note for the 2027 fiscal year in Jakarta on Friday.

Purbaya said his ministry has allocated Rp820.9 trillion for education programme spending in the 2027 Draft State Budget (RAPBN).