Will MBG SPPG Numbers Be Reduced? Purbaya Responds

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa stated that the impact of budget cuts to the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme on the reduction of Free Nutritious Meals Service Units (SPPG) lies with the National Nutrition Agency (BGN). ‘It depends on the MBG chief and the BGN chief,’ Purbaya said when met by reporters at the Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs office on Tuesday, 26 May 2026. ‘But essentially, the meals themselves won’t be cut. Only unnecessary parts will be restricted to maintain better control,’ he added. Previously, Purbaya revealed the government would again tighten the budget for the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme. This was stated during an APBN KITA press conference at the Ministry of Finance on Tuesday, 19 May 2026. According to Purbaya, the MBG budget implementation has reached Rp75 trillion, or 22.4% of the total budget requirement. Following the President’s directive, MBG efficiency measures have been implemented, reducing the budget to Rp268 trillion from the original Rp335 trillion allocated for this year. ‘Specific savings have been made in line with presidential guidelines to enable more efficient use of BGN funds. Further savings will follow,’ Purbaya said. However, Purbaya did not elaborate on further MBG savings. Fundamentally, he explained the President wants MBG to function effectively in providing nutritious meals for schoolchildren. He confirmed that with Rp75 trillion disbursed by end-April 2026, MBG beneficiaries now stand at 61.96 million across 27,952 SPPG.