Finance Minister Purbaya Deploys Staff to Monitor Free Nutritious Meal Programme

Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa stated that Ministry of Finance employees will participate in supervising the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme to ensure it operates efficiently.

“To ensure the programme becomes efficient, the Ministry of Finance is also involved in the oversight. Our employees in the regions will monitor each Nutrition Fulfilment Service Unit (SPPG) on a rotational basis. Therefore, I hope we can continuously improve the scenario for the MBint MBG moving forward,” Purbaya said in Jakarta on Thursday.

Purbaya noted that the budget for the MBG programme, which was originally projected to reach Rp300 trillion per year, has been steadily decreasing, dropping first to Rp260 trillion and subsequently to Rp240 trillion.

Looking ahead, he stated that further efficiencies will be implemented, with the goal of bringing the budget below Rp200 trillion per year. This situation has also been discussed with the Head of the National Nutrition Agency, Sudaryono.

“I have spoken with the new Head of the BGN, and it seems we can make it even more efficient, below Rp200 trillion,” he added.

Previously, the Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Sudaryono, confirmed that the agency is continuously monitoring the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme as part of improving the governance of this national priority nutrition programme.

He ensured that the 2027 budget can meet the national nutrition targets to reach 72.4 million beneficiaries, comprising children from Early Childhood Education (PAUD) to Senior High School, as well as pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers (3B).

Based on the joint indicative ceiling letter from the Minister of Finance (number S-228/MK.03/2026) and the Minister of National Development Planning/Head of Bappenas (number B-385/D.9/PP.04.03/05/2026) dated 7 May 2026, the total 2027 budget for the BGN is set at Rp240.2 trillion.

“This budget consists of the national nutrition fulfilment programme at Rp232.8 trillion (96.95 percent) and management support at Rp7.32 trillion (3.05 percent). With the moral support of Commission IX, we will continue to improve the governance of this MBG programme to achieve national nutrition targets,” he explained.

Sudaryono further detailed that, according to the Joint Budget Ceiling Letter (SPBA), the 2027 BGN budget for the provision and distribution of MBG for school children is Rp198.9 billion, while the budget for the ‘3B’ target group (pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers) is Rp33.5 trillion.