National Nutrition Agency Head Confirms Free Nutritious Meals Budget Remains at Rp335 Trillion

The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has confirmed that there will be no budget cuts to the Free Nutritious Meals programme (MBG) as a precautionary measure against global economic pressures.

The statement was made by Dadan Hindayana, head of the National Nutrition Agency, to the media following a limited coordination meeting at the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs in Jakarta on Monday 16 March 2026.

During the meeting, according to Hindayana, discussions focused on harmonising programmes across government ministries and agencies with the largest budgets, including BGN.

“We discussed budget harmonisation that needs to be implemented, especially in response to the current situation,” Hindayana explained.

The MBG programme has been allocated Rp335 trillion in the 2026 budget. Hindayana confirmed there would be no changes to this allocation in line with the meeting’s decision.

“For now we are maintaining the existing budget, particularly what has already been set in the 2026 state budget,” Hindayana said.

Regarding expenditures outside the provision of MBG, such as the procurement of motor vehicles, Hindayana stated that no changes have been made.

“We have already discussed it, and so far there are no changes,” he concluded.