Commission XI believes the budget for the Free Nutritious Meal program, which overlaps with education, is a strategy

“This policy is related to the ‘follow the program’ approach, where the budget follows the function and role of the program because its function is to strengthen the nutrition of Indonesian children, most of whom are of school age,” said Misbakhun in Jakarta on Thursday.

He said that the public needs to understand that this year, the number of beneficiaries of the MBG program is targeted to reach almost 83 million people, most of whom are children and students throughout Indonesia. Therefore, the MBG program involves a cross-cutting policy from the budgetary policy side.

“This policy is related to the ‘follow the program’ approach, where the budget follows the function and role of the program because its function is to strengthen the nutrition of Indonesian children, most of whom are of school age,” said Misbakhun in Jakarta, Thursday.

According to him, this pattern is entirely a budgetary allocation policy strategy. When the government implements a policy to increase the number and strengthen the beneficiaries of the MBG, he said, a budget-cutting policy occurs in its strategy and allocation.

“As a strategy for allocation, that choice is made and implemented. This is purely a budgetary allocation strategy that is the full authority of the government as the owner of the mandate to operationalise the State Budget,” he said.

He believes that this budgetary strategy of the government should be appreciated because the policy is a smart strategy.

“As a budgetary policy choice, this strategy deserves to be appreciated. So, don’t let it be questioned or even politicised as a misallocation of the budget,” he said.

In addition, he believes that the MBG program in 2026 has started to run smoothly and well in all regions, supported by Nutrition Service Stations (SPPG) that are actively operating well. He is confident that the beneficiaries of the MBG can also enjoy the presence of President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship program well.

According to him, the constitutional mandate mandates 20 percent of the State Budget for education funding. Because every year the amount of the State Budget increases, the education budget also always increases.

“Comparing the allocation of the MBG program budget with education funding is an exaggeration and not proportional. The development of educational infrastructure that is still lagging in some areas does not reduce the allocation of educational infrastructure budgets,” he said.

He also affirmed that the education budget is continuously being strengthened. Education for the community in 2026 is also being strengthened through the construction of People’s Schools in various corners of Indonesia.

“Currently, there is the construction of People’s Schools by the Ministry of Social Affairs as the technical driver. This is concrete evidence and commitment from the government,” he said.