Finance Ministry says free nutritious meal programme reaches 9.02 million beneficiaries in East Java

Surabaya, East Java (ANTARA) — The East Java Regional Office of the Directorate General of Treasury (Kanwil DJPb) has stated that the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme has reached 9.02 million beneficiaries in East Java as of the end of June 2026.

“The government is currently very focused on the MBG programme. On one hand, there have indeed been adjustments to the budget allocation,” said Wahidin, Head of Budget Implementation Guidance (PPA) I at the East Java Kanwil DJPb, following a press conference in Surabaya on Monday.

Wahidin said the 9.02 million beneficiaries of the MBG programme consist of 7.17 million students and 1.86 million non-students.

For its implementation, he said, the programme has been supported by 4,420 Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG), comprising 4,125 SPPGs already in operation and 295 SPPGs in the preparation stage.

“The expansion of implementation is expected to resume in the new academic year,” he said.

Meanwhile, with regard to the budget, Wahidin said his office is still awaiting the central government’s decision on the MBG programme allocation for East Java, following an adjustment that saw it reduced to Rp229 trillion from the previous Rp268 trillion.

Indeed, some time ago Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa said there remains potential for further budget savings if the proposal to exclude children from well-off families as MBG beneficiaries is realised.

“The government itself also considers that what was done previously did require adjustment or adaptation, so that the programme truly reaches its intended targets,” he said.

Nevertheless, he assured that the MBG programme continues to be implemented in accordance with regulations, with very positive progress to date.

“In essence, the government’s aim of providing MBG continues to be carried out, and we see that developments so far have been very positive,” said Wahidin.