Head of National Nutrition Agency Confirms Free Nutritious Meals Budget of IDR 335 Trillion Remains Unchanged

Jakarta — The Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Dadan Hindayana, has confirmed that thus far there has been no reduction or adjustment to the budget allocation for the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme in the 2026 state budget. Consequently, the BGN budget allocation remains at IDR 335 trillion.

“At present we are maintaining what has been set out, particularly what has been established within the 2026 state budget,” said Dadan in an interview at the office of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs in Central Jakarta on Monday (17 March 2026). He was responding to reports of planned budgetary adjustments to the MBG programme announced by Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa.

According to Dadan, discussions held during a Limited Coordination Meeting (Rakortas) with the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, the Ministry of Finance, and other ministries focused on budget harmonisation. This step was taken in response to evolving global circumstances.

Regarding options for adjustment in various spending categories that do not directly target food provision, Dadan stated that such matters are still under discussion and no decision on budget changes has been made. Dadan emphasised that approximately 93 per cent of the national nutrition programme budget is allocated directly for MBG assistance.

He noted that government assistance is channelled directly to regions through service units across Indonesia. Following the meeting, Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa expressed the view that there remains scope for budgetary efficiency in the MBG programme.

Purbaya stated that MBG is a positive programme because it helps many people, particularly lower-income groups. However, according to him, the implementation of the MBG programme could still be further optimised.

“The MBG will be made more efficient in how they spend. I think the MBG is a good programme because not everyone is wealthy. However, its implementation simply needs to be optimised,” he said.

Purbaya further expressed the opinion that the MBG programme implementation could be optimal without requiring the full allocation of the IDR 335 trillion budget. “I think so, not necessarily IDR 335 trillion,” said the former chair of the Deposit Insurance Corporation.