BGN Head Confirms Free Nutritious Meal Budget Remains at Rp335 Trillion
Jakarta – The Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Dadan Hindayana, has assured that there have been no cuts or adjustments to the Free Nutritious Meal Programme (MBG) budget in the 2026 state budget (APBN), maintaining its allocation at Rp335 trillion.
This statement came in response to reports of potential budget adjustments to the MBG announced by Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa.
“For now, we are still maintaining what has been established, particularly as set out in the 2026 APBN,” said Dadan at the office of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs in Jakarta on Monday.
He explained that discussions during the Limited Coordination Meeting (Rakortas) held on Monday, which brought together the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, the Ministry of Finance, and other ministries, focused primarily on budget harmonisation to address the evolving situation.
Regarding options for adjustments to certain expenditure items that do not directly target food provision, Dadan stated that these remain under discussion with no decision yet made on budget changes.
Dadan also emphasised that approximately 93 per cent of the national nutrition programme budget is allocated directly for government-provided nutritious meal assistance, which is distributed directly to regions through service centres throughout Indonesia.
Meanwhile, following the Rakortas meeting on Monday, Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa indicated that there remains room for budget efficiency within the MBG programme.
Purbaya acknowledged that MBG is a worthwhile programme as it benefits many citizens, particularly those in lower-income groups. However, he suggested that programme implementation could be further optimised.
“The MBG will have its spending methods made more efficient. I think MBG is a good programme because not everyone is wealthy. It’s just that the implementation could be optimised,” he said.
Purbaya expressed the view that the MBG programme could operate effectively without utilising the full budgetary allocation of Rp335 trillion.
“I think it doesn’t necessarily need to be Rp335 trillion,” he said.
Purbaya noted that his ministry is also preparing an efficiency plan for the budgets of various ministries and institutions (K/L) as part of efforts to maintain the 2026 APBN deficit below 3 per cent.
Budget efficiency efforts will primarily target the Additional Cost Budget (ABT) of each K/L. According to him, the ABT allocations of various K/L significantly contribute to budget expansion and represent a potential area where expenditure could be reduced.