August 20, 2025 | 11:01 am
The Free Nutritious Meals Program (MBG) received a budget of Rp335 trillion in the 2026 State Budget (APBN). This figure also makes the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), as the implementing agency for the Free Nutrition Meals Program, the largest recipient of the budget.
BGN Head Dadan Hindayana stated that the planned Rp335 trillion MBG budget for 2026 will focus on nutrition interventions and the digitalization of Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) operations. He stated that at least Rp1.2 trillion per day, or approximately Rp25 trillion per month, will be allocated for nutrition interventions.
"Because we have assumed 82.9 million beneficiaries, we are currently accelerating efforts. There are 19,000 (SPPG partners) whose feasibility we are currently assessing," Dadan said at the Antara Heritage Center in Central Jakarta on Tuesday, August 19, 2025.
Dadan said the nutrition interventions will target pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, toddlers outside of early childhood education (PAUD), and all students from early childhood education (PAUD) to high school. The budget is approximately 75 percent of the total Rp335 trillion.
In addition, the MBG budget will be used to support management and digitize SPPG operations to facilitate easier monitoring and control. "We want everything to be recorded and easily monitored through digitalization, and we admit that digitalization is still lagging behind for various reasons," said Dadan.
According to Dadan, SPPG operations have lagged because the system is not yet fully digitized. "When an SPPG is established, it should be included in the digitalized system, starting with children being checked in daily, then the attendance is entered into the SPPG, and the data can be directly sent to the central office. We are a bit behind, but we will catch up next year," he said.
Currently, Dadan stated that by mid-August 2025, 5,905 SPPGs will have been established, serving approximately 20.5 million beneficiaries. The establishment of these kitchens was carried out through collaboration with local entrepreneurs, community organizations, and non-governmental organizations, without increasing the burden on the 2025 State Budget. The investment absorbed by the community for building the kitchen infrastructure is estimated to reach Rp12 trillion.
"Adding approximately 19,000 other kitchens that have been built but are not yet operational, the investment value is projected to reach Rp38 trillion. Overall, the economic turnover from this program has the potential to reach Rp50 trillion," said Dadan.
In his state address delivered by President Prabowo Subianto on Friday, August 15, he announced an increase in the budget for the MBG program, reaching Rp335 trillion. According to Prabowo, the budget allocation is intended for 82.9 million MBG beneficiaries, consisting of students, pregnant women, and toddlers, through nutrition service units.
"We are building a superior generation of our children through MBG. A superior generation is born from healthy bodies and adequate nutrition," said the Chair of the Gerindra Party.
Prabowo claimed that the distribution of the MBG program could quickly eliminate stunting and have a positive ripple effect on society. "It will create hundreds of thousands of new jobs and empower farmers, fishermen, livestock breeders, and MSMEs," he said.
The budget for the MBG program will be largely drawn from the education budget, which amounts to approximately Rp757 trillion in the 2026 State Budget. The MBG will also receive funding from the health budget, amounting to approximately Rp24 trillion.
Anastasya Levenia, Dian Rahma Fika, and Antara contributed to the writing of this article.
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