President Prabowo: Free Meal Program Reaches 60 Million

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - President Prabowo Subianto emphasized that Indonesia’s Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program has expanded to reach more than 60 million beneficiaries, as the government accelerates efforts to address malnutrition and strengthen the country’s long-term human capital.

Speaking at the inauguration of 1,072 Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG) and the groundbreaking of 107 additional units in Palmerah, Jakarta, the President described the program as a key component of the government’s strategy to improve public health and support national development.

He said nutrition programs of this kind have been widely adopted by developed and democratic countries, emphasizing their importance in supporting vulnerable populations.

“A program like this is actually not the first time it has been implemented (not only) in Indonesia. Dozens of other countries have implemented it. And advanced countries, democratic countries, definitely have free nutritious meal programs for their people,” President Prabowo said on Friday, February 13, 2026, as quoted on the Presidential Secretariat official website.

The program was launched in response to Indonesia’s long-standing stunting challenge, which previously affected around 25 percent of children nationwide.

The President said addressing the issue requires direct government intervention, particularly for children, pregnant women and other vulnerable groups, as part of efforts to realize the country’s Indonesia Gold 2045 vision.

“In the end, I learned from the experiences of other nations. The only way is direct intervention from the government, directly to children, pregnant women and those in need,” he said.

President Prabowo also addressed concerns about the program’s fiscal impact, stating that it is being funded through budget efficiency measures while maintaining fiscal discipline. He said the government remains committed to keeping the state budget deficit within the statutory ceiling of 3 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).

“Our state budget does not fall outside the parameters we set. Our deficit remains below the limit we established, which is 3 percent of GDP. We are determined to reduce it further,” he said.

The program is supported by more than 22,000 service units across the country, reflecting the scale of the government’s effort to expand access to nutrition services nationwide.

The administration has positioned the MBG program as part of its broader strategy to improve health outcomes, enhance workforce productivity and support Indonesia’s long-term economic and demographic goals. ***