Yesterday: Bandung BRT Licence Suspension and MBG Budget Efficiency Review
Jakarta — Various economic developments were reported by the ANTARA News Agency on Monday (16 March 2026), ranging from the Bandung Mayor’s decision to halt all Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) development permits to the Finance Minister’s assessment that there is room for budget efficiency in the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme from its Rp335 trillion allocation.
The following is a summary of yesterday’s economic news worth noting today.
Bandung Mayor halts all BRT development permits
Bandung Mayor Muhammad Farhan has halted all development permits for the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project after discovering numerous problems with the quality of infrastructure work in the field. Farhan believed the public transportation project construction had not demonstrated adequate standards for a major project.
Hashim: President requests acceleration of three million housing development programme
Hashim Djojohadikusumo, Chair of the Housing Task Force and Special Envoy of the President of the Republic, stated that Prabowo Subianto has requested acceleration of the implementation of the three million housing development programme to meet the community’s housing needs and reduce the national housing backlog.
“But actually the President wants this (three million housing development) fast, fast,” said Hashim at the launch of Housing Development to Support the Three Million Housing Programme on land assets of PT Kereta Api Indonesia in the Manggarai Station area, Jakarta, on Monday.
Trade Minister evaluates e-commerce rules to strengthen oversight
Trade Minister Budi Santoso stated the government will re-evaluate regulations related to electronic commerce (PMSE) or e-commerce to strengthen oversight of online transactions and protect consumers. This was conveyed by Budi at Rawasari Market, Jakarta, on Monday, in response to the proliferation of reports of alleged fraud in buying and selling goods through social media, including cases of sellers using verified blue-check accounts but failing to ship goods after payment.
Government formulates budget efficiency plan to maintain APBN deficit below three per cent
Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa stated that he is formulating a budget efficiency plan for a number of ministries and institutions (K/L) as one effort to maintain the deficit of the State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBN) for the Fiscal Year 2026 below three per cent. Recently, news has emerged of an adjustment to the APBN deficit threshold to mitigate the effects of pressure from global oil prices impacted by the conflict between Iran, the United States and Israel.
Purbaya believes there is room for MBG budget efficiency from Rp335 trillion allocation
Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa believes there is still room for budget efficiency from the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme which has received a Rp335 trillion allocation. Purbaya said MBG is a good programme as it helps many people, particularly the lower income groups. However, he noted that the implementation of the MBG programme could still be further optimised.