Purbaya Reveals That The Funds Returned By BGN Have Not Been Officially Allocated

Minister of Finance Purbaya Yudhi Sadive (Photo: Doc. VOI)

JAKARTA - Minister of Finance Purbaya Yudhi Sadive explained that the refund by the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) came from a reserve fund of Rp. 100 trillion, which has not actually been officially allocated.

"What I know is that he returned Rp. 100 trillion from the budget he had asked for, but it hasn't been budgeted properly, so actually the money doesn't exist yet. From the budget he asked for, we haven't allocated it, so the money doesn't exist," he said at the State Budget press conference, on Tuesday, October 14.

Meanwhile, the budget of IDR 71 trillion that has been allocated for BGN is still being monitored. Purbaya assessed that monitoring was needed to ensure whether the funds could be fully absorbed by the end of the year.

"In fact, what we saw earlier, which was IDR 71 trillion. Not the one who was returned, it was budgeted, yes, how much was absorbed until the end of the year, we'll see what it was like," he explained.

According to him, the MBG program is good, so it must be encouraged so that the absorption is also optimal and will be reviewed at the end of October.

Deputy Minister of Finance Suahasil Nazara also added that until early October 2025, the Free Nutrition Food (MBG) program had reached 31.2 million recipients.

He said that the realization of the budget used only reached Rp20.6 trillion or around 29 percent of the total ceiling of Rp71 trillion.

"Well, if we look at the distribution that has taken place throughout Indonesia, Sumatra, with 6.6 million recipients, Java, Kalimantan, and so on," he added.

Previously, the Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) Dadan Hindayana said that his party was unable to absorb the entire budget this year, so that Rp70 trillion was returned to President Prabowo Subianto.

Dadan said the government had prepared large amounts of funds to ensure the success of the MBG program so that it could reach all targets. However, of the total allocation of IDR 71 trillion and additional reserve funds of IDR 100 trillion, not all of them can be utilized this year.

"This year BGN received a budget allocation of IDR 71 trillion, plus a standby fund of IDR 100 trillion. Of this total, IDR 99 trillion was successfully absorbed, while IDR 70 trillion was returned to the President of the Republic of Indonesia because it may not be absorbed this year," Dadan said in a written statement.

He conveyed that for the coming fiscal year, the government will significantly increase its support.

Meanwhile, BGN is planned to receive a budget of IDR 268 trillion, making it the largest budget institution in the cabinet. In addition, the government has also prepared additional reserve funds of IDR 67 trillion, so that the total budget in the APBN to support the MBG program next year will reach IDR 335 trillion.

"With a total of 82.9 million beneficiaries, every day we will disburse funds of around Rp1.2 trillion. For other ministries, that figure may be equivalent to the full one-year budget, but for us in the National Nutrition Agency, it is a necessity. one day, "he said.