Indonesia’s Finance Ministry has disbursed 13 trillion rupiah ($792 million) as of September 8 to fund President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program, aimed at providing subsidized meals to schoolchildren and vulnerable groups.
The amount accounts for 18.3 percent of the Rp71 trillion budget allocated for the program in the 2025 state budget, Deputy Finance Minister Suahasil Nazara told reporters in Jakarta on Monday.
He said the program has so far reached 22.7 million recipients through 7,644 local service units.
“As of September 8, the Free Nutritious Meals program has served 22.7 million beneficiaries,” Nazara said. “Budget allocations will be adjusted as we work toward the target of 82.9 million recipients.”
Related news: Indonesia's BGN denies rumors of fake kitchens in free meal program
Java accounts for the largest share of recipients at 13.26 million, followed by Sumatra (4.86 million), Sulawesi (1.70 million), Kalimantan (1.03 million), Bali-Nusa Tenggara (1.34 million), and Maluku-Papua (0.52 million), ministry data showed.
Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa warned last week that part of the MBG budget could be reallocated if spending remains low by the end of October.
“If we see that only a portion can be absorbed by late October, the funds will be withdrawn,” Sadewa said on September 19.
“They may be redirected to reduce the deficit or pay down debt,” he added.
He stressed that unused funds will not sit idle.
“There is no parked money in any ministry or agency through year-end,” he said.
While President Prabowo has championed MBG as a key part of his welfare agenda, Sadewa noted that spending depends on ground-level implementation.
“Like any other program, MBG may require intervention and added oversight to meet its goals,” he said.
Related news: Free meals program prioritizes nutritional balance, hygiene: BGN
Translator: Bayu Saputra, Martha Herlinawati Simanjuntak
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
