The Government Ensures That Free Nutrition Food Will Not Cut Other Program Budgets

JAKARTA - Spokesperson for the Presidential Communication Office (PCO) Dedek Prayudi emphasized that the free nutritious eating program (MBG) does not reduce the budget for other programs.

"No, it's actually not like that. So don't be fooled that MBG is sacrificing other programs," said Dedek, quoted from ANTARA, last Saturday.

Dedek explained that the government of President Prabowo Subianto made a shift to focus on main work programs.

He added, during President Joko Widodo's administration, the main priority of the budget was directed at large-scale infrastructure development.

However, under President Prabowo, priority has shifted to developing human resources (HR), including through free nutritious meals with a budget allocation of IDR 71 trillion and a free health check program with funds of IDR 4.7 trillion.

In addition, the government also plans to hold free TB checks, which are outside the scope of free health checks on birthdays, with a budget of IDR 8 trillion.

Dedek also said that the increase in health facilities, such as hospitals and health centers, was a concern with a budget allocation of IDR 15 trillion during this government period.

"So it doesn't mean that free nutritious meals take other program allocations. What happens is the transfer of the focus of the state budget, from massive infrastructure development to human development. Infrastructure is still being built, but this time the role of the private sector is further improved," explained Dedek.

Dedek also mentioned the reduction in the budget for the development of the capital city of Nusantara (IKN) in East Kalimantan. According to him, the allocation for IKN is currently lower than the previous year.

He emphasized that this was part of a strategy to optimize the role of the private sector in development.

"The massive development carried out by the government previously serves as a first step to show the state's commitment to investors, including foreign capital, in building IKN," he concluded in response to the free nutritious food budget.