MBG Reduction Discourse Strengthens, Prasetyo Reveals It Will Be Announced Soon

Mensesneg Prasetyo Hadi (Photo: VOI doc)

JAKARTA - Secretary of State Prasetyo Hadi responded to the discussion regarding the reduction of the distribution of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program from six days to five days a week.

Meanwhile, this policy is considered as part of efforts to increase budget efficiency amid rising world oil prices.

When asked whether President Prabowo Subianto had approved the plan, Prasetyo said the decision was still in the finalization stage.

"We are finalizing it," he said when asked whether Prabowo agreed with the idea of reducing the MBG to five days, met by the media at the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, Friday, March 27.

He explained that the government was still completing various strategic steps to respond to global dynamics, including regarding the continuation of the MBG program.

Prasetyo added that the official announcement regarding the policy is planned to be delivered in the near future, namely this weekend.

"(It was announced) this week. There is Saturday, there is Sunday," he explained.

Previously, Minister of Finance Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa said that the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) was 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.