Government Communications: MBG Efficiency Could Save State Budget Around IDR 1 Trillion Monthly

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Head of the Government Communications Agency (Bakom) Muhammad Qodari stated that efficiency measures in the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme will save the State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBN) approximately IDR 1 trillion each month. During a press conference in Jakarta on Wednesday, Qodari affirmed that the government is committed to improving the governance of the MBG programme’s implementation, including a moratorium on new Nutritional Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG), recalculating incentives, and focusing on target recipients in the most needy groups. “According to reports or meetings held some time ago at the Coordinating Ministry for Food, the calculation shows savings of up to roughly IDR 1 trillion every month. This means that in a year, it could save IDR 12 trillion,” Qodari said. He mentioned that other innovative steps from the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) to achieve financial efficiency as part of improving MBG governance are awaiting a comprehensive review by the agency, which will be conducted during the school holiday period. Several evaluations to be carried out include the calculation of incentives, the number of SPPGs, and the optimisation of benefits for breastfeeding mothers, pregnant women, and toddlers. “The future focus will also be on building SPPGs in the 3T regions or remote areas so that the most vulnerable groups can receive maximum benefits,” he stated. The government has previously cut the MBG programme’s budget ceiling in the 2026 APBN from IDR 335 trillion to IDR 268 trillion. It is known that BGN Deputy Head Agustina Arumsari, following a meeting with House of Representatives Commission IX in Jakarta on Monday (15/6), conveyed that MBG will be focused on groups deemed most in need of nutritional intervention, such as pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, toddlers, and early childhood. Senior high school students, especially those from affluent categories, potentially will no longer be targets for MBG distribution. She stated that after reorganising the beneficiary list, BGN will focus on restructuring the governance of SPPGs. During a meeting at the Coordinating Ministry for Food on Thursday (11/6), Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan conveyed that the number of SPPGs has now exceeded the initial target of around 21,000 points, with the current count standing at 27,877 points, an excess of 6,877 points.