Purbaya Says MBG Budget Absorption Will Be Evaluated, Can Be Added Or Reduced

Minister of Finance Purbaya Yudhi Sadive stated that his party would carry out strict supervision of the realization of the Free Nutrition Food program (MBG) budget.

He explained that the Ministry of Finance will evaluate the use of the MBG budget this October and if the budget absorption goes well, it is possible that the budget will be increased.

On the other hand, continued Purbaya, if absorption is considered low, then it is likely that the budget will be reduced.

"I'll see what it looks like at the end of October, if it can be absorbed, it's not this, if it's good, we'll add it, if we expect later he won't be absorbed until the end of December, it's reduced. That's all," said Purbaya, Thursday, October 2.

Previously, Purbaya said that the unabsorbed budget would not be left unemployed until the end of the year and if the MBG absorption was not optimal, the budget would be diverted to other sectors that needed it more, reduced the deficit, or to pay off state debt.

"The OMG treatment will be the same, if we can see it and we try to help, including from all kinds of management. There are a lot of financial people, right? Let's work," he said in a media briefing, Friday, September 19.

"If at the end of October we can calculate and we anticipate that the absorption will only be enough, we will also take the money, we will distribute it to other places or to reduce the deficit or to reduce debt. So basically there is no wine money at the Ministry which is earmarked until the end of the year. That's roughly the step," he added.

According to him, the president's support for the MBG program remains strong, but if the budget cannot be absorbed properly, then the support does not necessarily change conditions on the ground.

For this reason, he said the Ministry of Finance would help accelerate absorption through improving management and supervision and this step was taken so that there would be equal distribution of state spending in all Ministries/Institutions (K/L) so that all government programs run optimally.

He said that if there are K/L including BGN that cannot use the expenditure budget effectively, the budget will be shifted to another more effective spending sector.

Purbaya menjelaskan, jika penyerapannya membaik, tidak menutup kemungkinan alokasi anggaran MBG dapat ditambah, namun, langkah ini tetap mengedepankan prinsip efisiensi dan akuntabilitas anggaran negara.

"Justru kita membantu MBG biar diserep lebih cepat tapi kalau saya gak ada sanksi ya mereka santai-santai aja lah ini stick and carrot. Kalau bisa lebih cepat ditambah lagi uangnya tetapi hitungan kita gak mungkin keliatannya makanya kita mau lihat dan kita perbaiki, kita bantu kalau bisa," tuturnya.

Purbaya explained, if the absorption improves, it is possible that the MBG budget allocation can be increased, however, this step still prioritizes the principles of efficiency and accountability of the state budget.

"In fact, we help MBG so that it can be accessed more quickly, but if I don't have sanctions, they just relax, this is stick and cart. If possible, add more money, but our calculations can't be seen, so we want to see it and we fix it, we will help if we can," he said.