TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa will cut the budget ceiling for the free nutritious meal program (MBG) by Rp67 trillion in the 2026 state budget (APBN). As a result, the outlook for MBG spending until the end of the year will decrease from Rp335 trillion to Rp268 trillion.
Purbaya said the decision was an instruction from President Prabowo Subianto. However, he noted that the calculation remains temporary.
According to Purbaya, the government is still leaving room for further savings. “My figure of Rp268 trillion is still temporary. That figure is for now, but there is potential for further improvement,” he said during the APBN KiTa May 2026 press conference in Jakarta on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.
Purbaya said the President wants the funds allocated for MBG to be used more efficiently. Prabowo is currently improving the program’s management and spending patterns. Therefore, he urged the public to stop criticizing the use of funds for the program while the evaluation process is ongoing.
“Stop blaming MBG. The President is improving the management of MBG and how they spend money,” said Purbaya.
Meanwhile, the realization of MBG spending as of April 30 reached Rp75 trillion, or 22.4 percent of the initial Rp335 trillion budget ceiling. With that spending, the MBG program has reached 61.96 million beneficiaries and 27,952 nutrition fulfillment service units (SPPG).
Read: Indonesian Police Aim to Establish 1,500 Free Meal Kitchens by 2026
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
Indonesian Police Aim to Establish 1,500 Free Meal Kitchens by 2026
2 hari lalu
Police Chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo targets the construction of 1,500 free meal (MBG) kitchens throughout Indonesia by 2026.
Prabowo Praises Polri Achievements in Food Sector at Corn Harvest
3 hari lalu
Prabowo praised the Indonesian Police (Polri) for their achievements in the food sector and for implementing the free nutritious meal (MBG).
Prabowo Launches Polri Food Warehouse and MBG Kitchen Project
3 hari lalu
Construction will begin on ten Polri Food Security Warehouses, and the 166 free nutritious meal (MBG) kitchens will be ready for operation.
BGN Responds to ICW Report on Halal Mark-Up Allegations
7 hari lalu
ICW argued that the party responsible for the halal certification should be the MBG kitchens or SPPG rather than the BGN.
Over 8 Billion Free Nutritious Meals Distributed Since January 2025
7 hari lalu
At least 60 million free nutritious meal servings are distributed daily to students and pregnant people.
200 Indonesian Students Suffer Food Poisoning, Likely from Meat
8 hari lalu
200 students from 12 schools in the Tembok Dukuh area of Surabaya suffered from mass food poisoning after consuming a free nutritious meal (MBG) menu.
MBG Food Poisoning in East Jakarta: Causes and Victim Count
10 hari lalu
Based on reports, there were 252 parents who reported their children experiencing food poisoning because of free nutritious meal (MBG) menu.
MBG Poisoning Again? Hundreds of Students Fall Ill in Cakung
10 hari lalu
The Jakarta Health Department has not yet been able to determine the cause or the contents of the MBG meal that triggered the poisoning.
Why BGN Partners with Prisons for MBG Kitchens
11 hari lalu
BGN Head Dadan Hindayana explains the reasons for using prison facilities and inmate labor to manage the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program kitchens.
ICW Detects Alleged Markup in Halal Certification Fees at BGN
12 hari lalu
The ICW reported the alleged corruption in halal certification at BGN to the Corruption Eradication Committee (KPK).
:strip_icc():format(jpeg)/kly-media-production/medias/5485282/original/038819000_1769501489-pikojerico-175__1_.jpg.jpeg)
