Government Optimizes Role of SOEs to Support Smooth Free Nutritious Meal Program
By: Gina Sari Dewi*
The Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG) is one of the leading initiatives of the government of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka in an effort to improve the nutritional quality of school children in Indonesia.
This program not only reflects the government’s commitment to creating a healthy and productive young generation, but also is a real form of synergy between the central government, regional governments, and State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN).
Appreciation for this collaboration should be given considering that the implementation of the MBG program has shown encouraging results since its launch in January 2025.
President Prabowo Subianto emphasized the importance of cross-sector synergy to make this program a success. He ordered all ranks of the Red and White cabinet to strengthen collaboration with regional governments so that the distribution and implementation of MBG can reach all corners of Indonesia.
A clear target has been set, namely to ensure that all school children in Indonesia receive nutritious food by the end of 2025. To date, the MBG program has reached 650,000 children, with the projection of beneficiaries continuing to increase to reach 15 million children by September 2025.
Deputy Minister of SOEs Aminuddin Ma’ruf expressed his appreciation for the involvement of PT Pertamina (Persero) in providing energy such as BBM, LPG, and gas networks to support the operation of free food kitchens.
In accordance with the direction of the Minister of SOEs, each SOE has a specific task in supporting this program. Pertamina, through the gas subholding PT Perusahaan Gas Negara Tbk (PGN), has ensured the availability of gas network infrastructure to facilitate the process of cooking nutritious food.
This step not only supports the smooth running of the program, but also reflects the social responsibility of SOEs in supporting national development.
Pertamina Group has also shown a high commitment to supporting MBG. Vice President of Corporate Communication of Pertamina, Fadjar Djoko Santoso, explained that the synergy carried out involves the provision of energy throughout Indonesia.
By ensuring the availability of energy, Pertamina supports the creation of healthy eating patterns in the community while helping to shape a healthier and more productive young generation. This collaboration is a real example of how the public sector and corporations can work together to achieve broader development goals.
On the other hand, Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi said that the government does not rule out the possibility of utilizing the results of the 2025 budget efficiency to support the expansion of the MBG program. Presidential Instruction Number 1 of 2025 concerning state spending efficiency has encouraged savings in various sectors, including operational and non-operational spending.
This efficiency is expected to be allocated to support productive programs, such as MBG, so that the benefits can be felt directly by the community.
The synergy between the central government, regional governments, and BUMN in the MBG program is not only a symbol of cooperation, but also a foundation for ensuring the sustainability of this program.
The active involvement of all parties allows the implementation of the program to run effectively, from the provision of food supplies to distribution to free food kitchens in various regions.
Local governments, which have an important role in implementing the program in the field, also contribute through the management of nutrition fulfillment service units (SPPG) in their respective regions. This shows that the success of the MBG program is the result of collective work involving various elements of the nation.
In addition, the MBG program has a significant positive impact on the community. School children who are the main targets of this program get access to free nutritious food, which is expected to improve their concentration in learning and health.
In the long term, this program has the potential to reduce stunting and malnutrition rates in Indonesia, while building public awareness of the importance of a healthy diet. This positive impact is in line with the government’s vision to create a healthy, intelligent, and highly competitive golden generation of Indonesia.
The success of this program cannot be separated from the support of the community and various related parties. However, challenges remain, especially in ensuring equitable distribution and sustainability of the program in remote areas.
Therefore, the synergy that has been formed must continue to be strengthened, both in terms of coordination, funding, and monitoring of program implementation.
The government also needs to ensure that the quality standards of the food provided are maintained, considering the importance of children’s health as the main beneficiaries.
