President Prabowo Subianto highlighted the significant impact of the Makan Bergizi Gratis (MBG) program during the Annual Session of the People’s Consultative Assembly. Since its launch eight months ago, the program has benefitted 20 million individuals, including school-age children, preschoolers, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers. The establishment of 5,800 Nutritional Service Units (SPPG) across 38 provinces has not only provided free nutritious meals but also created 290,000 jobs and engaged one million farmers, fishers, livestock breeders, and small and medium-sized enterprises.
Prabowo emphasized that MBG is more than just a social welfare initiative; it is a strategic effort to nurture a healthy, intelligent, and productive generation. The program has already shown positive outcomes, such as higher school attendance rates and improved academic performance. Despite being relatively new, Indonesia’s achievements with MBG have exceeded the progress of many other countries, with Prabowo comparing it to Brazil’s 11-year journey to reach a similar milestone.
The President’s speech at the session, which was attended by various leaders and government officials, highlighted the transformative impact of the MBG program and its role in driving economic growth in rural areas. Prabowo emphasized the importance of such initiatives in building a strong and prosperous nation, with the United Nations recognizing programs like MBG as a valuable investment in the future.
