PDIP: Funding for the Free Nutritious Meal Programme Comes from Education Funds

Several members of Commission X of the House of Representatives from the PDIP faction have refuted the government’s claim that the free nutritious meal programme (MBG) does not draw from the education budget in the 2026 state budget. Deputy Chairman of Commission X DPR, Maria Yohana Esti Wijayanti, stated that the IDR 223.5 trillion budget for the MBG comes from the 2026 education budget, which totals IDR 769 trillion.

According to Esti, this is evident in the 2026 State Budget Law and the appendix to the Presidential Regulation detailing the State Budget. “It clearly states that the IDR 769 trillion education budget includes IDR 223.5 trillion for the MBG,” she said during a press conference at the PDIP Party School, South Jakarta, Wednesday, February 25, 2026.

At the same event, Deputy Secretary-General of PDIP and member of Commission X DPR, Adian Napitupulu, also emphasized that they want to clarify the information circulating in the public regarding the polemic surrounding the source of the MBG budget. PDIP officials at the provincial and city levels have reportedly questioned the truth behind the use of education funds for the National Nutrition Agency.

However, the public is confused because this information has been denied by the Minister of Basic and Secondary Education, Abdul Mu’ti, and the Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Danil Anzar Simanjuntak. Therefore, PDIP claims they need to reveal the truth based on the available data and regulations.

Adian said that the 2026 State Budget Law and its explanatory appendix can, in themselves, refute the claims of the ministers. “We want to convey that the MBG budget is indeed taken from the education budget,” he said.

Adian also stated that referring to the two documents, it can be confirmed that the MBG budget is not obtained from the results of government budget efficiency, as claimed by officials. According to him, this information is important to convey so that the public understands clearly and does not fall into misleading news.

The public debate previously emerged after claims that the MBG was taking a portion of the education budget. The government emphasized that the programme does not erode the education allocation but runs in tandem with strengthening infrastructure and education assistance.

However, referring to the appendix to Presidential Regulation Number 118 of 2025 concerning the Details of the 2026 State Budget, the MBG budget is listed in the education budget. Of the total IDR 769 trillion education budget, approximately IDR 223 trillion is allocated to the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) to implement the MBG programme.

The Minister of Basic and Secondary Education, Abdul Mu’ti, affirmed that the MBG programme does not reduce the education budget in his ministry. He ensured that strategic education programmes will continue to run and even be expanded in 2026.

“If there is an assumption that the MBG reduces the education budget, we firmly state that this is not true. The president’s programmes related to education will continue to be implemented in the best possible way,” said Mu’ti at the Coordination Meeting for the Implementation of the MBG Programme in East Java, Thursday, February 19, 2026.

Dinda Shabrina contributed to this article.