Jakarta. President Prabowo Subianto's flagship Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program absorbs Rp 36.6 trillion ($2.17 billion) from the 2026 state budget as beneficiaries climb past 60 million, the Finance Ministry says

Vice Finance Minister Suahasil Nazara said the number of beneficiaries has continued to rise significantly.

“This is the latest figure as of Feb. 21, 2026. At the end of 2025 there were 53.8 million beneficiaries, and now it has reached 60.24 million,” he said at a press conference in Jakarta on Monday.

The government aims to reach 82 million beneficiaries, primarily students and expectant mothers.

The MBG program is being implemented across the archipelago through 23,678 kitchens called SPPG. Regionally, the largest number of beneficiaries is in Sumatra, with 12.3 million recipients, followed by Sulawesi with 4.4 million. According to the State Secretariat, the program is targeted to reach 82 million beneficiaries nationwide.

The acceleration of MBG spending has contributed to stronger state expenditure at the start of 2026, reinforcing the state budget’s role as a driver of economic growth. Ministry and agency spending surged 128.9 percent to Rp 55.8 trillion (about $3.3 billion), equivalent to 3.7% of the full-year state budget target.

The National Nutrition Agency (BGN), which is in charge of the program, disbursed Rp 32.1 trillion for the MBG program in early 2026.

Meanwhile, non-ministry/agency spending reached Rp 76.1 trillion ($4.5 billion), bringing total central government expenditure to Rp 131.9 trillion ($7.8 billion), up 53.3 percent from the previous period. The increase reflects faster implementation of priority programs, including social assistance and public service spending.

Transfers to regional governments stood at Rp 95.3 trillion ($5.6 billion), strengthening local fiscal capacity to support development and public services.

As a result, total state spending reached Rp 227.3 trillion ($13.5 billion) as of Jan. 31.

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