Indonesia moves to separate MBG program budget from education spending

The Government of Indonesia reported that the Free Nutritious Meal (Program Makan Bergizi Gratis, MBG) has reached a budget realization of Rp101.1 trillion, covering more than 63 million beneficiaries as of the second quarter of 2026.

The Constitutional Court ruled that the MBG budget must be removed from the education budget, ordering the separation to be applied no later than the 2028 fiscal year. Lawmakers, including DPR Vice‑Chair Charles Honoris and Esti Wijayati, have urged the government to implement the ruling in the 2027 state budget, arguing that early compliance will provide fiscal certainty and improve education funding.

The Ministry of Law announced it will analyse the court decision and report to President Prabowo Subianto. Meanwhile, the government is prioritising the construction of MBG kitchens in eastern provinces such as Papua, NTT and Maluku to ensure equitable access to nutritious food. A student‑led research by the Alliance of Student Responders highlighted the program’s potential to boost village economies and create local jobs, while also noting challenges in local supply‑chain integration.

Following a recent food‑poisoning incident, the Head of the National Nutrition Agency, Sudaryono, classified such cases as fatal and introduced a zero‑tolerance policy, including immediate suspension of kitchens and removal of responsible managers.