Prabowo Accelerates Free Meal Program with Weekend Meeting at Hambalang
Main Takeaways
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JAKARTA, investortrust.id – President Prabowo Subianto has convened a weekend meeting with top officials from Indonesia’s national nutrition agency to fast-track the rollout of new operational units for his flagship free meal initiative. The program, designed to improve child nutrition and human capital, has become a strategic focus of the administration.
The meeting took place on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Prabowo’s private residence in Hambalang, West Java, and was attended by senior figures from the National Nutrition Agency (BGN). Also present were Minister of Defense Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi, and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya.
The head of the agency, Dadan Hindayana, said the meeting followed a phone call from the President two days earlier requesting an update on the program’s progress and delivery targets.
“As of now, the program has reached 3.3 million beneficiaries,” Dadan said after the meeting. “We anticipate new service units to begin operations on May 5 and May 14, and expect to serve over 4 million people by mid-May.”
High-Level Commitment and Urgency
President Prabowo emphasized the importance of accuracy and discipline in executing the program, which he considers a strategic investment in Indonesia’s future workforce.
“The President encouraged us to work with more precision and care,” Dadan explained. “He reminded us that this program is a high-stakes investment in human capital, and any misstep in the field can be costly.”
Prabowo also delivered a motivational message to frontline workers—especially the members of the meal service units, or SPPG, and the university graduates in the SPPI program who are spearheading implementation in rural areas.
SPPI, or Indonesian Development Mobilizer Graduates, are university-educated professionals deployed by the government to support the implementation of community-based development programs, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
Expansion Plans and Milestones
The program, known officially as Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) aims to reach 6 million beneficiaries by the end of May or early June. Dadan confirmed that April’s target of 3 million beneficiaries had been met and that the next phase of expansion was on track.
“We’re aiming to hit 6 million by June and 20 million by the end of August,” he said. “With the third batch of SPPI training now complete, we’re ramping up operations significantly.”
Zero-Accident Goal
Dadan concluded by reiterating the agency’s commitment to ensuring food safety and preventing any incidents of food poisoning as the program scales.
“Everyone at the agency and in the field is fully motivated,” he said. “Our goal is not only to expand fast, but to maintain a zero-accident record.”