Jakarta, Aug. 5 -- The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) reported that budget absorption for the government's Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program has so far reached Rp7.9 trillion (USD1 = around Rp16,376).

BGN Head Dadan Hindayana assessed that this amount exceeded the previous projection of Rp6 trillion absorbed by the end of July.

"Previously, we estimated that it would only reach Rp6 trillion by the end of July," he stated at a press conference on Economic Growth in the Second Quarter of 2025 in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Hindayana remarked that significant budget absorption is expected to continue over the next two months, targeting Rp9 trillion in August.

Furthermore, in September, the free meals program aims to cover 50 million beneficia...