JAKARTA – Public support for the Free Nutritious Meals Program (MBG), initiated by President Prabowo Subianto, is gaining momentum. President Prabowo himself expressed his happiness during a visit to a school where the program was being implemented.
Prabowo shared his joy upon seeing children enjoying the nutritious meals provided.
“Seeing the enthusiasm of the children as they receive and enjoy the nutritious food at school is a joy in itself. Their smiles and cheerfulness reflect great hopes for the future of Indonesia,” he said.
The President also emphasized that the program aims to ensure that children’s nutritional needs are met to support their growth and development. This aligns with the vision of Indonesia Emas 2045, where a healthy and intelligent generation is the key to national development.
Meanwhile, the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) along with the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) held a socialization event for the MBG Program in Makassar. The head of the Commission IX DPR RI, Ashabul Kahfi, asserted that the MBG Program is a concrete step by the government to meet the nutritional needs of the public, especially vulnerable groups such as schoolchildren, toddlers, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers.
“This program is an initiative by President Prabowo as a tangible step to meet the basic nutritional needs of the people. Currently, there are still many groups that desperately need sufficient nutritional intake,” Ashabul stated.
He also highlighted the high rate of stunting in Indonesia, which stands at 21.7 percent, making Indonesia the second-highest country in Southeast Asia in terms of stunting. With the MBG Program in place, it is hoped that this number will significantly decrease.
The newly elected Mayor of Makassar, Munafri Arifuddin (Appi), also expressed his support for the MBG Program. According to him, the implementation of this program at the regional level must be taken seriously so that its benefits are truly felt by the community.
“We are ready to implement the national policy, including the Free Nutritious Meals Program, to the fullest. This is part of our efforts to improve the welfare of the people of Makassar,” said Appi.
He called on all elements of society, local governments, and the media to collaborate in ensuring the smooth implementation of this program.
Support for the MBG Program also came from the Indonesian Nutritionists Association (Persagi) of Bengkulu Province. The head of the Bengkulu chapter, Dr. Emy Yuliantini, stated her full support for the program’s implementation.
“Persagi is always ready to collaborate and fully support the steps taken by the government for the welfare of the people,” said Dr. Emy.
