JAKARTA - Minister of Finance (Menkeu) Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa has approved the proposal for the efficiency of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program, as long as it does not lower the quality of food provided to the public.
He explained that the proposed budget cuts actually came from the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), not from the Ministry of Finance.
"As long as there is efficiency, I agree, and it does not reduce the quality of the food itself," said Purbaya as reported by ANTARA, Friday, March 27.
In the latest scheme, the MBG program is planned to run five days a week as part of an efficiency measure. This policy is expected to maintain the benefits of the program for the community without burdening the state budget excessively.
Purbaya assessed that the direction of the program's policy was still on the right track.
Currently, the Government is adjusting the implementation of the program to the current conditions, including the option of reducing operational days.
The Minister of Finance assessed that the change in the scheme to five days did not reduce the main objective of the program, but to regulate the rhythm of implementation to be more efficient and sustainable.
The government itself wants to ensure that every state expenditure has an optimal impact on the community.
"It means (MBG efficiency) adapts to the development of the situation. So there should be no problem," he said.
In addition to the MBG program, Purbaya also prepared efficiency measures at other spending posts across ministries and agencies. This effort is part of the next stage in the arrangement of the state budget.
"In other places across ministries there is efficiency. There is a third stage. Basically, the third stage is designed to cover the existing budget deficit," said the State Treasurer.
However, he did not specify the total value of the efficiency that would be carried out because the government was still calculating the budget needs and potential savings.
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