Indonesia to Review, Potentially Reduce Free Meal Program Budget

Indonesia's government plans to review and potentially adjust the budget for its Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG), with officials indicating a possible reduction rather than a cut. Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi explained that ongoing calculations and governance improvements suggest a decrease in the program's required budget. He requested time to finalize these figures with the Ministry of Finance and the National Nutrition Agency.

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Not a cut, but from the calculation results, we believe there will be a reduction in the budget needs for this MBG Program, so we ask for time to calculate with the Ministry of Finance and the National Nutrition Agency. So, from the restructuring process, we can calculate more carefully what the actual total budget needed for this MBG Program will be.

The MBG program's budget was initially set at Rp268 trillion for 2026. The government has agreed on a comprehensive review of the program, expected to conclude within the next month. Prasetyo noted that while many aspects of the program operate according to established procedures, certain clusters require restructuring. Priority will be given to ensuring that disadvantaged, frontier, and outermost (3T) regions quickly benefit from the MBG.

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If we talk about time, of course, as soon as possible because there are clusters of problems. So, the majority are running according to the established mechanisms and standard operating procedures (SOP), so that continues. Now, there are clusters that we must restructure and fix, including for us to immediately prioritize in disadvantaged, frontier, and outermost regions (3T) to be able to benefit from this MBG Program as soon as possible.

Additionally, the government is working to expand MBG benefits to pregnant and breastfeeding mothers and toddlers (3B) within two weeks. The review also involves re-evaluating and refocusing beneficiaries, including reducing distribution to schools not identified as high-priority for the program. Prasetyo stated that a clear agreement will determine which schools are eligible or prioritized for MBG.

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Then there will be what is called an agreement, or whether a school is included as eligible or a priority to receive MBG or not, because the standard operating procedure from the beginning was like that.

Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan highlighted a significant increase in distribution points (SPPG), from an initial target of 21,000 to 27,877, an excess of 6,877 points. This expansion could lead to an estimated annual waste of Rp12 trillion. He also noted an increase in SPPG points in 3T areas, from a target of 2,000 to 8,617. Hasan emphasized the need for a thorough overhaul by the new head and management of the National Nutrition Agency to improve this vital program.

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The initial plan was 21,000 points, but now there are 27,877 points. There is an increase of 6,877 points.