Purbaya Does Not Cut MBG Budget: Efficiency Initiative from BGN

Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa stated that there is no cut to the budget for the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme. The spending adjustments are instead an initiative from the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) through efficiency measures. “I am not cutting the budget; I am not reducing MBG. They are implementing efficiencies themselves,” Purbaya said at the Ministry of Finance office in Central Jakarta on Friday, 27 March 2026. He noted that the efficiencies implemented by BGN on the MBG programme do not reduce food quality. According to Purbaya, efficiencies are not only occurring in MBG but also in various ministries and agencies. These steps are being carried out gradually as part of budget restructuring. He stated that in the third phase of this restructuring, the government is preparing a scheme to cover APBN shortfalls. Previously, the National Nutrition Agency proposed efficiencies for the Free Nutritious Meals programme by reducing the distribution frequency from six days to five days per week. This proposal is said to be able to save the budget by around Rp 40 trillion per year. According to Purbaya, the potential efficiency of Rp 40 trillion from MBG has not yet been included in the calculation of ministry and agency spending efficiencies, which the government is currently preparing with a target of Rp 80 trillion.