Jakarta - Presidential envoy Hashim Djojohadikusumo revealed that the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program, which is currently a government priority, was initiated by President Prabowo Subianto since 2006.
Hashim emphasized that the idea was Prabowo's wish that he wanted to realize long before the President won the 2024 presidential election.
"The Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG), that was Mr. Prabowo's promise. That was Mr. Prabowo's idea 18 years ago. That idea was born in 2006," Hashim said during the commemoration of International Day of Persons with Disabilities in Jakarta last month, as quoted from the official broadcast of President Prabowo Subianto's Media Team in Jakarta, Sunday.
In a video recording shared by the Presidential Media Team, Prabowo consistently campaigned for the 2014 presidential election to promote his desire to realize the Free Nutritious Meals program for children.
"I want to lead the change of Indonesia. We guarantee the children, they must have enough to eat, must have enough food, must have enough school," said Prabowo's speech during the 2014 presidential campaign.
The Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG) started simultaneously throughout Indonesia on January 6, 2025. On the first day of the MBG, there were 190 SPPGs operating to supply nutritious meals to schools and integrated health posts in 26 provinces.
SPPG is a nutrition fulfillment service unit tasked with managing a public kitchen that cooks and distributes free nutritious food for children, pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers in the surrounding area. In operating the kitchen, SPPG is led by a head of SPPG who is assisted by a nutritionist and an accountant.
The number of SPPG and recipients of free nutritious meals continues to increase over time. The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) announced that as of January 17, 2025, there were 238 SPPGs operating to fulfill Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) in 31 provinces. From that number, the number of MBG beneficiaries has become 650,000 people.
The President targets the number of MBG recipients for the period January to April 2025 to be 3 million children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers. Then, 6 million people in the period April-August 2025, 15-17 million people in August to September 2025. By the end of 2025, the President targets Free Nutritious Meals to be enjoyed by 82.9 million people.