Purbaya on MBG Budget Efficiency: Awaiting Meeting with BGN Chief
Jakarta - Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa stated he will meet with the Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Nanik Sudaryati Deyang, later this week to discuss budget efficiency for the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme. “Regarding the BGN, we are still waiting for a meeting with the Head of BGN, I believe on Thursday or Friday,” Purbaya said following a presentation on the APBN KiTA, Tuesday (21/7/2026). He could not yet confirm the value of the budget cuts to be discussed. “Regarding the Rp170 trillion figure or anything else, we are still waiting.”
The BGN has confirmed that the MBG budget will no longer be Rp268 trillion. This budget reduction will occur in line with efforts to improve governance. Deputy Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) Agustina Arumsari could not yet disclose the detailed figures for the budget reduction but confirmed it has been significantly reduced from the initial amount. “For now, I may not be able to mention the figure, but it is clear it is no longer Rp268 trillion; it has been reduced significantly. However, because the process is still ongoing, I cannot mention the figure yet,” Agustina said at the Presidential Palace Complex on Monday (20/7/2026).
Agustina explained that the budget reduction aligns with ongoing governance improvements, including seeking fairer schemes and refocusing efforts. President Prabowo Subianto has given a one-month deadline to find solutions for improving the MBG’s governance to make it more efficient. Agustina cited an example of efficiency, noting that the budget per portion would no longer be a flat Rp15,000 across all regions due to differences in local food prices. She also mentioned conducting checks on operational SPPG points and creating a database for each beneficiary. “What is clear is that we do not want to follow the old ways. We are tidying up the existing 27,469 points. For those in the construction process that have received the so-called ‘blue tick,’ around 13,000 are being built by BGN. We are thoroughly reorganising those,” she said.