April 30, 2025 | 07:43 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Deputy Minister of Finance Suahasil Nazara stated that the government has disbursed Rp2.3 trillion for the free nutritious meal (MBG) program as of April 29, 2025, marking a fast-tracked distribution of funds compared to the end of February 2025.
In February, the government spent Rp0.3 trillion on the MBG program. "So the government disbursed Rp1 trillion each in March and April. There has been an acceleration," Suahasil said at the State Budget Press Conference at the Ministry of Finance office on Wednesday, April 20, 2025.
The free nutritious meal funds have reached a myriad of beneficiaries including students of preschool, elementary, junior high, high school, and Islamic boarding school, as well as students with special needs, toddlers, and pregnant people. There are a total of 3,265 people enjoying the free meal program as per April 29, while there are 1,102 Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG) in operation.
This year, the government allotted Rp71 trillion in budget to manage the free nutritious meal program, with plans for an additional Rp100 trillion.
Previously, free nutritious meals targeted 17.9 million beneficiaries, including 15.5 million schoolchildren and 2.4 million pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers. This target was then increased to a total of 82.9 million beneficiaries, requiring additional funding.
The Ministry of Finance, he said, has prepared the additional funding. "We are ready to increase it by Rp171 trillion because in the fourth quarter of 2025, the target is 82.9 million beneficiaries," he said.
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