MBG Budget Cut, Government Saves Rp 50 Trillion in a Year

Vice Minister of Finance, Juda Agung, stated that the government will adjust the budget for the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme to sharpen budget refocusing. At the National Policy Dialogue and Kick Off for Accelerating National Intermediation (PINISI), Juda explained that the adjustment involves reducing the number of MBG provision days from five to four days per week, which is expected to save the state budget up to Rp 50 trillion per year. “MBG that was previously provided on Saturdays as free lunch is now eliminated. It’s more logical, isn’t it?” said Juda, quoted on Tuesday, 28 April 2026. The step to eliminate MBG provision for one day per week considers effectiveness aspects, as it could cause inefficiency. Because, Juda assessed, if students have to come to school on a holiday just to get MBG, that would be inefficient. “Because if there’s food (MBG) at school on Saturday, the children have to come to school, right?” he said. From a fiscal perspective, Juda acknowledged that reducing the number of MBG provision days will have a very significant impact on savings. According to him, eliminating one day will save the equivalent of Rp 1 trillion per day. “One day can save Rp 1 trillion. Five days a week, four times a month, that can save Rp 4 trillion. Of course, in a year, the savings would be more than Rp 50 trillion,” said Juda. In addition, Juda continued, savings measures will also be implemented by tightening supervision of the quality of MBG programme implementation in the field. If an SPPG does not meet the standards in providing MBG menus, that SPPG will be subject to strict sanctions. “SPPG that does not provide nutritious food according to the standards and conditions, so-called naughty SPPG, will be suspended and evaluated. This is an example of how sharpening and refocusing continues to be done,” he said.