DPR: Free Nutritious Meal Programme Budget to Drop to IDR 174 Trillion Next Year

The Chairman of the House of Representatives’ Budget Committee, Said Abdullah, has confirmed that the budget for the free nutritious meal programme (MBG) will decrease from IDR 268 trillion to around IDR 174 trillion next year. Said stated that the reduction is adjusted according to the number of nutrition fulfilment service units (SPPG) and the total number of beneficiary students. “So, by my calculation, including outside the education budget, there is a health budget component that covers things like stunting and pregnant women, it will not exceed IDR 174 trillion,” Said remarked at the parliamentary complex in Jakarta on Monday. “So, from IDR 268 trillion to IDR 174 trillion, that is still high,” he added. The Government had previously cut the indicative ceiling for the MBG programme in the 2026 State Budget (APBN) from an initial IDR 335 trillion to IDR 268 trillion. Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, during the May 2026 edition of the APBN KiTa press conference, explained that the decision was an instruction from President Prabowo Subianto to ensure the programme’s funds could be managed more efficiently. As of 30 April, the realised budget distribution was recorded at IDR 75 trillion, reaching 61.96 million beneficiaries and 27,952 Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG). “MBG has reached IDR 75 trillion, which is 22.4 per cent of the APBN allocation of IDR 335 trillion. But later it will not be IDR 335 trillion. There are certain savings in accordance with the President’s instructions, so that the National Nutrition Agency’s funds can be used more effectively and efficiently,” Purbaya stated recently.