State Secretary Minister says MBG programme budget may decrease
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi said there is a possibility that the budget requirement for the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme will decrease following management improvements at the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) and the validation of programme recipient data.
“There is a possibility that after the improvement process in the management or leadership of the National Nutrition Agency and after the data validation process, there could be a reduction in the MBG budget requirement,” said Prasetyo at the Presidential Palace Complex in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Prasetyo said this possibility had also previously been conveyed by Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa.
According to him, the results of the management improvements and data validation will later determine the programme’s budget requirement more accurately, meaning the MBG budget requirement could be lower than previous calculations.
After attending a plenary Cabinet meeting at the State Palace in Jakarta on Monday (20 July), Purbaya said he could not yet confirm the figure that would be set.
He said he would first meet with the Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Nanik S. Deyang, as the programme’s implementing official.
“I want to meet (the Head of BGN) this week, to see what her strategy will ultimately be for this year. But clearly, there is a possibility of a reduction,” said Purbaya.
Purbaya said he could not yet explain the size of the budget reduction in question, nor the factors behind the government’s considerations in making the adjustment.
The government affirmed that a decision on the budget amount will be made after further discussions with the National Nutrition Agency.
Meanwhile, the MBG programme budget under the state budget is Rp268 trillion. However, the National Nutrition Agency’s Secretary-General, Lili Khamiliyah, said the budget could potentially be reduced through efficiency measures to Rp229 trillion, in line with governance improvement efforts over the coming month.
“For the time being, in 2026 we already have budget efficiency, from Rp268 trillion to Rp229 trillion,” said Lili at a press conference at the BGN office in Jakarta on Tuesday.