JAKARTA - Minister of Finance Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa said that the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) is preparing efficiency measures in the implementation of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program.
He explained that one of the options being considered is to reduce the frequency of distribution from six days to five days a week.
According to Purbaya, this policy has the potential to save the budget by around Rp. 40 trillion per year, but this figure is still an initial estimate compiled by BGN and is subject to change.
"So there is also efficiency from MBG. So there is quite a lot of reduction, which he just said Rp. 40 trillion for the first rough calculation, but it could be more. It's not me cutting it, he did it himself, because he (BGN) said there could still be efficiency with the current situation," he said in a media briefing, Wednesday, March 25.
However, Purbaya has not detailed the savings scheme and further explanations will be provided directly by the Chairman of the BGN in the near future.
"With that, our cushion is still enough," he said.
Furthermore, he explained that this efficiency plan does not include other potential savings that had previously been conveyed by the Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi, namely IDR 80 trillion.
Purbaya said that in addition to the MBG program, austerity measures would also be implemented in various other ministries and agencies.
"I will make it evenly throughout the K/L. We will determine from here that he will cut it himself," he said.
For information, the total budget for the MBG program in 2026 reached Rp335 trillion, significantly increased compared to the previous year's realization of Rp51.5 trillion.
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