BGN: Free Nutritious Meal Program Budget Absorption Reaches 42%

October 22, 2025 | 10:51 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Dadan Hindayana, reported that the free nutritious meal (MBG) program has absorbed 42 percent of the budget per Wednesday, October 22, 2025.

The government previously earmarked Rp71 trillion for the MBG program this year. "Alhamdulillah, today, we have absorbed Rp30 trillion, which covers 42 percent (of the budget)," said Dadan after a meeting at the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs office in Jakarta on Wednesday, October 22, 2025.

Dadan is confident that the absorption will grow over time. "It will grow throughout the month, so we will be short of around Rp28 trillion by year's end," he said.

President Prabowo previously approved Rp100 trillion additional budget for the free nutritious program, but Dadan said only Rp28 trillion would be disbursed, bringing the total budget to Rp99 trillion.

Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa claimed he would monitor the use of the budget for the free nutritious meal program until the end of October 2025.

The minister ensured the unused funds would be recalled and channelled into other programs. "If it's unused, the cash will be withdrawn. Why? Because it would be idle. I'd distribute them to other, more prepared programs," said Purbaya on October 7, 2025.

Purbaya said he would not walk back his decision to recall idle MBG funds. "If by the end of October I find that several trillions are idle, I'll withdraw the cash," he said.

Editor’s Choice: Indonesia's Free Nutritious Meal Program Has Reached 36.7 Million People, Says BGN

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