MBG Encourages Acceleration of Community Economic Turnover
JAKARTA – The Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) Program launched on January 6, 2025 by President Prabowo Subianto has succeeded in accelerating the circulation of money at the village and sub-district levels. The President expressed his optimism that this program can increase economic growth and equity in various regions.
“The free nutritious meal program is expected to increase growth in all of our regions, because money circulates in villages, sub-districts, and regencies,” said President Prabowo during a press conference at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta.
The MBG program is one of the government’s priorities which is believed to be able to support the competitiveness and transformation of the national economy. To support economic growth, the President also mentioned eight main government policies that will be implemented in the first quarter of 2025.
In addition to the MBG, other policies include increasing the provincial minimum wage (UMP), optimizing the distribution of social assistance in February-March 2025, and disbursing holiday allowances (THR) for ASN and private workers in March 2025. The government will also provide economic stimulus through discounts on airline tickets, toll rates, national shopping, the Eid homecoming tourism program, and stabilizing food prices.
The President also mentioned a significant increase in rice production, which is believed to have a positive impact on the economy. The MBG program, on the other hand, is expected to improve the health of the community’s economy, especially at the village level.
Furthermore, a member of the Central Lombok Regency Regional People’s Representative Council (DPRD), Saeful Muslim, gave a positive assessment of the implementation of this program. He assessed that the MBG has a chain effect that can be felt directly by the community, especially those who work as farmers, ranchers, traders, and others.
Saeful Muslim noted that the MBG program has created a high economic turnover in the community. In Pengenjek Village, Jonggat District, Central Lombok, the daily economic turnover is estimated to reach 30 million rupiah, which comes from the purchase of kitchen necessities such as rice, side dishes, and fruit for more than 3,000 portions of free nutritious food.
In addition, around 40 kitchen staff from local residents also contributed to the implementation of this program. The ingredients used are also obtained from farmers, livestock breeders, and the local community, so that it not only helps meet the nutritional needs of the community, but also supports the local economy. []
