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

The Regional Office of the Directorate General of Treasury (DJPb) for East Java 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. “Currently, the government is very focused on the MBG. On one hand, there are indeed adjustments to the budget ceiling,” said Wahidin, Head of the Budget Implementation Guidance Division I at the East Java DJPb Regional Office, following a press conference in Surabaya on Monday. Wahidin said the 9.02 million MBG beneficiaries comprised 7.17 million students and 1.86 million non-students. He added that the programme’s implementation has been supported by 4,420 Nutritional Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG), consisting of 4,125 operational SPPGs and 295 in the preparation stage. “Further expansion is expected to take place in the new academic year,” he said. Meanwhile, from a budgetary perspective, Wahidin said his office is still awaiting a decision from the central government regarding the MBG allocation in East Java, following an adjustment that saw the budget cut to Rp229 trillion from the previous Rp268 trillion. Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa recently indicated there could be further budget savings if the proposal to exclude children from affluent families as programme beneficiaries is realised. “The government also considers that what was done previously needs, what is it, adjustments or adaptations, so that it truly meets the target,” he said. Nevertheless, he assured that the MBG programme’s implementation to date continues to be carried out in accordance with regulations and has shown very positive progress. “The bottom line is that the government’s objective of providing free nutritious meals continues to be pursued, and we see that developments so far have been very positive,” Wahidin said.