PDI-P Highlights Free Nutritious Meal Programme in Education Budget; Government Responds
JAKARTA — The government has responded to the controversy regarding the classification of the Makan Bergizi Gratis (MBG, Free Nutritious Meal) programme budget within education spending.
The dispute over MBG programme funding resurfaced following the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) revealing 2026 State Budget data concerning education allocations.
My Esti Wijayati, Deputy Chair of Commission X of the Indonesian House of Representatives from the PDI-P faction, stated that MBG funding falls under the education budget allocation pursuant to the 2026 State Budget Law and the Presidential Regulation on detailed state budget allocations.
“In the annex to the state budget, which takes the form of a Presidential Regulation, it is clearly stated that the Rp 769 trillion education budget includes MBG funding of Rp 223.5 trillion. This is official in the state budget annex document,” said Esti during a press conference at the PDI-P Party School in Jakarta on Wednesday, 25 February 2026.
On this basis, PDI-P disclosed state budget data to provide clarification so that party members and the public would receive accurate information.
“Since questions have begun emerging at the grassroots level, we felt it necessary to explain openly so that we convey the truth in accordance with the data contained in the state budget,” she stated.
Adian Napitupulu, a Commission X member of the House of Representatives from the PDI-P faction, noted that provisions regarding MBG are stipulated in the Explanation of Article 22 of Law Number 17 of 2025 concerning the 2026 State Budget.
“Operational funding for education provision, including nutritious meal programmes at institutions involved in education provision, whether general or religious,” reads the regulation cited by Adian.
“When we do not obtain a complete understanding in the main body of the law, we can find it in the explanation. The explanation states the above,” Adian said.
According to Adian, this explanation is reinforced by Presidential Regulation Number 118 of 2025 on the detailed 2026 State Budget allocation, which designates funding for the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) of more than Rp 223 trillion.
Details of the 2026 State Budget are contained in Presidential Regulation (Perpres) Number 118 of 2025 on the Detailed State Revenue and Expenditure Budget for the 2026 Financial Year.
In this document, the education budget is found in Annex VI.
It states that the total education budget is Rp 769.086.869.324.000, distributed among numerous ministries and agencies.
One agency receiving an allocation is the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), the body responsible for the MBG programme. The BGN allocation is listed under item number 1.1.23 with an allocation of Rp 223.558.960.490.000.