Appreciating President Prabowo’s Commitment to Creating a Healthy Generation Through the MBG Program
By: Rivka Mayangsari*)
At the beginning of his administration, President Prabowo Subianto demonstrated a strong commitment to building the nation’s foundation by improving the quality of human resources. One of the breakthrough initiatives that is now starting to have a wide impact is the Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG), a strategic policy that not only touches on health aspects, but also has an impact on village economic growth and local community empowerment.
President Prabowo said that the government is determined to expand the reach of this program significantly. He emphasized that currently, the number of MBG beneficiaries has exceeded 3 million and is expected to continue to increase to 4 million in the near future. This shows that MBG is not just a food aid program, but a long-term investment by the state to create a healthy and quality generation.
Not only focusing on improving the nutrition of children and pregnant women, the MBG program has also proven to have a double effect on the regional economy. The President said that money circulation in villages has increased drastically, even up to 4 to 5 times—due to the provision of local food, processing, and distribution activities. He said that the increase in the regional economy by 400 to 500 percent was an extraordinary achievement that had never happened in recent times, even in other countries.
The success of this program is certainly inseparable from the planned and careful management. The Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Dadan Hindayana, explained that President Prabowo gave special instructions for the institution to work carefully and responsibly, considering that MBG is part of the grand strategy for national human resource development. The President also emphasized that the implementation of this program is very vulnerable to challenges in the field, so that field officers, including SPPI who are at the forefront, must work carefully, alertly, and with high spirits. He ensured that the welfare of the implementers would also be a concern of the government, so that the spirit of public service is maintained.
In terms of development vision, Provision and Distribution of Region III BGN, Enny Indarti, explained that the MBG program is in line with the ideals of the President and Vice President to realize Quality Human Capital as the main pillar towards Golden Indonesia 2045. She emphasized that the progress of the nation cannot be separated from the quality of its human resources, which are not only assessed from intellectual intelligence and work skills, but also from optimal physical and mental health. All of this is greatly influenced by nutritional status and eating patterns from an early age. With MBG, this nation is building a generation that is more physically and mentally prepared to face global challenges in the future.
Support for the MBG program does not only come from the executive, but also from the legislative institution. Member of Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Arzeti Bilbina, said that this program has the main objective of improving health, supporting child growth and development, and increasing children’s attendance at school. She also highlighted how MBG is able to drive the local economy widely, including opening up opportunities for farmers, ranchers, and MSME actors.
More than just providing free food, Arzeti considers MBG to be a major investment in developing superior human resources. He said that Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives is committed to overseeing this program comprehensively, starting from budget supervision, implementation in the field, to listening to aspirations from the community. He hopes that this program can encourage the creation of a healthy, intelligent, and highly competitive generation, especially in areas such as East Java, which has shown a positive response to this program. According to him, children who grow up healthy today are leaders who will lead the Indonesian nation to a brighter future.
Through MBG, President Prabowo has proven that the state is truly present for its people. This program is not just a campaign slogan or ceremonial project, but a real step in shaping the future of the nation. The dual effect of MBG in both nutritional and economic aspects proves that this program is designed comprehensively and integrated.
The people are now witnessing for themselves how a policy that favors the interests of the common people can bring about major changes in a relatively short time. The MBG program has fostered optimism, strengthened the spirit of mutual cooperation at the local level, and opened up hope that Indonesia can become a developed country with superior human resources.
President Prabowo emphasized that children’s health and nutrition are something that cannot be compromised. He believes that the future of Indonesia depends entirely on the quality of today’s generation. And now, through the Free Nutritious Meals program, that grand vision is no longer just a dream—it has been started, implemented, and felt.Local governments, schools, integrated health posts, and local communities are actively involved in the data collection, distribution, and supervision process, thus creating a collaborative ecosystem that strengthens community-based food security. With this involvement, the MBG program not only improves nutritional intake, but also strengthens social solidarity and accelerates equitable development between regions. This collective spirit is Indonesia’s main strength in preparing a superior generation towards a sovereign and just future.
*) Community Nutrition Observer
