Fantastic! Government Allocates Nearly Rp1 Trillion Daily for MBG Programme

Jakarta – The Deputy Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Sony Sonjaya, stated that the government is allocating a budget of nearly Rp1 trillion every day for the Makan Bergizi Gratis (MBG) programme. “To optimise community empowerment, there must be costs, and this is the concrete cost. In practice, the government is disbursing nearly Rp1 trillion daily to communities from Aceh to Papua,” said Sony at the Office of the Coordinating Ministry for Community Empowerment, Jakarta, on Thursday, 16 April 2026. Sony explained that the budget directly circulates within society and serves as one of the sources of economic rotation. “The funds disbursed by the government flow straight to the grassroots. From villages to metropolises, all absorb this money,” he clarified. In detail, Sony noted that the daily MBG budget amounts to Rp986 billion. This budget is used to purchase staple ingredients, cover operational costs, and provide incentives for employees and SPPG volunteers. He further revealed that approximately 1.8 million volunteers are involved in distributing the MBG programme to beneficiaries. These millions of volunteers receive incentives from the said budget. “Rp117 billion per day is absorbed by 1.8 million volunteers involved in delivering nutritious meals to beneficiaries. These funds serve as a form of economic empowerment for the communities directly involved in implementing the Makan Bergizi Gratis programme,” Sony disclosed. In addition, the benefits of the MBG programme are also felt by traders of rice, chicken, eggs, and fruits. According to him, more than Rp600 billion, or 70 percent of the total budget, is used to purchase staple foods. “Who absorbs more than Rp600 billion? Traders of rice, chicken, eggs, meat, vegetables, and fruits,” he said.