Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Ministry of Finance is strengthening field oversight of the budget for the government’s flagship free nutritional meal (MBG) program by utilizing the nationwide network of the Directorate General of Treasury (DJPb) regional offices.
Speaking at a press briefing in Jakarta on Wednesday (August 12), Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa said that district and city level regional offices of the Directorate General of Treasury (DJPb) have conducted comprehensive on-site surveys at local Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG).
“We are not relying on remote oversight. We have treasury representatives in every province and second-tier administrative region across Indonesia,” Minister Purbaya said.
“We are using this (ground-level footprint) to systematically review all operational and financial aspects of these service units,” he added.
Based on the monitoring reports, Purbaya said the national program was generally operating well.
However, field evaluations identified several site-specific shortcomings that require administrative and operational improvements.
Purbaya noted that these evaluation reports will be submitted directly to the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) to help improve implementation as the program expands.
“Overall, the roll-out is progressing well. While we identified various site-specific deficiencies, we will pass these findings to BGN so it can make the necessary structural adjustments going forward,” he said.
The minister added that formal coordination with newly appointed BGN Head Sudaryono would take place following the agency’s internal consolidation.
The nationwide program represents one of the government’s largest fiscal undertakings.
Budget realization for the free meal program reached Rp101.1 trillion (US$6.5 billion) by the end of the second quarter of 2026, providing nutritional support to 63.13 million beneficiaries nationwide.
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Translator: Bayu Saputra, Yashinta Difa
Editor: Bayu Prasetyo
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