Free Nutrition Eating Program Help Create An Inclusive Economic Ecosystem

Illustration (Photo: Doc. ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Bank Indonesia (BI) Governor Perry Warjiyo is ready to support the Free Nutrition Food (MBG) program.

Perry said that the Free Nutrition Food program can improve people's nutrition so as to create an inclusive economic ecosystem in supporting the economy and financial system.

"We are also preparing BI's support for how to eat nutritiously. We support this program to be very good because it forms an ecosystem, especially inclusive economic finance," at the launch of the 2024 Indonesian Economic Report (LPI), Wednesday, January 22.

Perry added, BI with headquarters and 46 representative offices throughout Indonesia are designing various policies that can support the success of the program.

"We are discussing how BI is not only the head office, instead 46 BI offices throughout Indonesia can support the success program of this program," he said.

Previously, the Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs (Menko Pangan) Zulkifli Hasan gave a signal that the budget for the Free Nutrition Food program could be increased to IDR 140 trillion.

With this addition, more and more will be able to receive benefits.

Zulhas, as Zulkifli Hasan is familiarly called, explained that this additional budget could occur if state revenues also increase and budget savings can be carried out efficiently.

If the state income increases, if the budget savings is here and there, it can be obtained. So don't make sure first. If the President manages to add another Rp140 trillion in August, then later the benefits will be more than 80 million," he said in a virtual discussion in Jakarta, quoted Thursday, January 16.

Currently, continued Zulhas, the budget for the Free Nutrition Food program is still at IDR 71 trillion with more than 17 million beneficiaries.

"Eating nutritious is only Rp71 trillion in budget. Until April, if I'm not mistaken, which will benefit approximately 2 million. Now until December from the Rp71 trillion, it will benefit approximately 17 million more until December. So it's not until June. Later June, July, the President will evaluate," he said.