PCO: Free Nutrition Eating Recipients Reach 8 Million People As Of Early August

Deputy for Dissemination and Information Media of the Presidential Communication Office (PCO) Noudhy Valdryno (right) in a special interview with ANTARA in Jakarta, Thursday (7/8/2025). (ANTARA/Agatha Olivia Victoria)

JAKARTA - Deputy for Dissemination and Information Media of the Presidential Communication Office (PCO) Noudhy Valdryno revealed that recipients of the Free Nutrition Food (MBG) program have reached approximately 8 million people throughout Indonesia, as of today.

According to him, this achievement was extraordinary because it was only carried out for 6 months to 7 months the program took place.

"I think this is an extraordinary progress, yes and indeed this is the strength of the Republic of Indonesia. We are a very creative nation, a very resilient nation," said Ryno in a special interview with ANTARA in Jakarta, Thursday, August 7.

He also compared it with the achievement of distribution of similar programs in other countries, which only covers 2 million to 3 million recipients for 5 years to 10 years of implementation.

Thus, he said President Prabowo Subianto continues to encourage the MBG program to run with a better vision and immediately pursue the achievements of other countries that already have a stable free meal program.

As for the 7 months of program implementation or before the 80th Anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia, said Ryno, the President targets the MBG program to be accepted by 20 million people.

"So is the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) which targets recipients to reach almost 20 million. So it is the same," he said.

He hopes that the MBG program can increase human resources (HR) in Indonesia towards Indonesia Gold 2045 which will have a demographic bonus.

With the demographic bonus that makes more and more people in Indonesia, he said, if it is not equipped with good nutrition from an early age, it will further increase the burden on the country.

"You can imagine that in 2045 we predict that our population will have 330 million, 350 million. So you can imagine that suddenly an additional 60 million to 70 million Indonesians are malnourished," he said.

Automatically, he continued, throughout human life these people will not be able to compete globally in their fields and get a decent life and survive with standards if the government does not pay attention to them since 2025.

Therefore, he believes that the MBG program is the best long-term investment that the Indonesian nation can do and has been recognized by various international organizations.

"So like the School Meals Coalition, it says that this is a very appropriate program for countries like Indonesia," said Ryno.