BGN Clarification: The Budget for Free Nutritious Meals Has Not Been Cut — Here Is the Explanation

JAKARTA — The government cut the budget for the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program in 2026 by about Rp 67 trillion. This was stated by Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa at the APBN KiTa May 2026 edition press conference on Tuesday, 19 May 2026.

Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) Dadan Hindayana assessed that there has been no cut to MBG funding this year. He said from the outset the budget requirement for the MBG program was Rp 268 trillion, not Rp 335 trillion.

BGN’s state budget (APBN) for 2026 amounts to Rp 268 trillion. Rp 67 trillion is contingency funds, he said when contacted by Republika on Wednesday, 20 May 2026.

Quoting information from the BGN website, the Rp 335 trillion figure publicly known derives from the Standby Fund BA BUN (Bagian Anggaran Bendahara Umum Negara), released under the president’s contingency policy for Rp 67 trillion. Of the total APBN allocation of Rp 268 trillion managed by BGN, 93 percent is allocated to Government Assistance under the MBG program.

“The budget is based on the APBN as a law; BGN receives an allocation of Rp 268 trillion. So if anyone says we have an Rp 335 trillion budget, that is not correct,” Dadan said in the statement.

Dadan explained that most of that budget is used to support operations of the Satuan Pelayanan Pemenuhan Gizi (SPPG) across Indonesia. Of Rp 249 trillion, 70 percent is used to buy raw materials. Meanwhile, 20 percent is used for operations such as electricity, vehicle rental, including salaries for volunteers.