Government cuts MBG budget to Rp268 trillion for 2026

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The government has trimmed the ceiling for the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme under the State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBN) for the 2026 fiscal year from Rp335 trillion to Rp268 trillion. Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, at the APBN KiTa May 2026 press conference in Jakarta on Tuesday, explained that the decision is President Prabowo Subianto’s instruction to ensure MBG funds are managed more efficiently. Disbursement of the budget up to 30 April amounted to Rp75 trillion, reaching 61.96 million beneficiaries and 27,952 Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG). “MBG has already reached Rp75 trillion, which is 22.4 per cent of the APBN of Rp335 trillion. But in the future it will not be Rp335 trillion. There will be certain savings in line with the President’s instructions, so that funds of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) can be used more effectively and efficiently,” said Purbaya. The Finance Minister signaled that there will be further MBG budget savings, though he did not detail future plans. However, Purbaya said President Prabowo is improving MBG management and the way the BGN spends the budget. “The President is calculating how best to achieve savings without undermining the program’s effectiveness in feeding schoolchildren. That is what matters,” he stated. As a note, government spending grew significantly by 34.3 per cent to Rp1,082.8 trillion. This realisation accounts for 28.2 per cent of the APBN target of Rp3,842.7 trillion. Central government spending rose 51.1 per cent to Rp826 trillion. The state treasurer stated that this realisation stems from a strategy to even out government spending distribution throughout the year. In detail, spending by ministries/agencies (K/L) grew 57.9 per cent to Rp400.5 trillion, while non-K/L spending grew 45.2 per cent to Rp425.5 trillion. On the other hand, state revenue grew by 13.3 per cent to Rp918.4 trillion, so the APBN deficit reached 0.64 per cent of GDP or Rp164.4 trillion as of 30 April 2026.