MBG and Social Assistance Programs Trigger a Spike in State Spending Early in 2026
The Ministry of Finance reported that the realization of state expenditures as of January 31, 2026 reached Rp. 227.4 trillion or equivalent to 5.9 percent of this year's state budget ceiling.
The figure grew 25.7 percent compared to the same period in 2025.
Deputy Minister of Finance Suahasil Nazara said that the growth in state spending at the beginning of this year was stronger than last year.
"This year we have spent Rp. 227 trillion and that is 25.7 percent above last year," he said at the APBN KiTA press conference, Monday, February 23.
He added that the realization consisted of central government spending of Rp131.9 trillion and transfers to regions (TKD) worth Rp95.3 trillion.
The central government's spending is divided into ministerial/institutional spending (K/L) of Rp55.8 trillion and non-K/L spending of Rp76.1 trillion.
He added that the increase in K/L spending was mainly triggered by an increase in the social assistance (bansos) budget as well as the implementation of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program.
"The central government through various ministries and agencies has spent Rp. 55.8 trillion. If compared to January 2025, the budget is only Rp. 24.4 trillion, especially in social assistance spending. This year, social assistance spending reached Rp. 9.5 trillion, more than double compared to last year's Rp. 4.1 trillion," he explained.
Suahasil said that in addition to social assistance, goods spending also increased, in line with the continued implementation of the MBG program in early 2026.
He added that the surge in the MBG budget occurred simultaneously with the increase in the number of Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG) and beneficiaries.
As of January 2025, the operating SPPG recorded 246 units with 549,679 beneficiaries, while as of January 2026, the number of SPPGs has exceeded 23,000 units with coverage of more than 60 million people.
"In January 2025, the realization of MBG is still around Rp. 45 billion, while in January 2026 the realization jumped to Rp. 19.5 trillion," he said.