Airlangga Ensures Budget Discussion Of Free Lunch Program, Enters KEM-PPKF 2025

Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto gave information regarding Indonesia's 2023 Economic Growth at the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Jakarta, Monday (5/2/2024). (ANTARA PHOTO/Muhammad Adimaja/tom)

JAKARTA - The government has started discussing the budget for the free lunch program at the discussion of Macroeconomic Policy and the 2025 Fiscal Policy Principles (KEM-PPKF) at the cabinet meeting next Monday (26/2).

"The budget is gradual, we will see on Monday. There is a scale," said Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto in Jakarta, reported by ANTARA, Friday, February 23.

Airlangga said there had been no further decision regarding the free lunch program budget scheme proposed by presidential and vice presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

So far, the government has just decided to discuss the program in the 2025 KEM-PPKF.

"We just discussed the title, PPKF," said Airlangga. "(The discussion of the free lunch program) is definitely coming in," he continued.

Program makan siang gratis merupakan salah satu program yang diusung oleh pasangan calon (paslon) Prabowo-Gibran. Berdasarkan hasil perhitungan cepat yang dilakukan Komisi Pemilihan Umum (KPU) yang tercantum dalam lamanhttps://pemilu2024.kpu.go.id, pasangan Prabowo-Gibran unggul dengan perolehan suara 58,89 persen per 22 Februari 2024 pukul 23.00.15 WIB.

In its vision and mission document, the candidate pair explains that the free lunch program aims to overcome stunting problems and will target pre-school students, elementary schools (SD), junior high schools (SMP), high schools (SMA), and pesantren.

Nutrition assistance will also be given to pregnant women and toddlers throughout Indonesia to improve health and help the family's economy.

The program targets more than 80 million beneficiaries with 100 percent coverage by 2029.

To note, KEM-PPKF is an official state document that is a reference for the preparation of a financial note and the 2025 State Revenue and Expenditure Budget Draft (APBN).

The preparation of the 2025 State Budget is the last during the administration of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), while the implementation of the 2025 State Budget will be carried out by the next government.

Previously, Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati asked that the design of the state budget this time be further sharpened, so that the state budget was able to answer various structural and fundamental issues. In addition, it also answers the hopes of the Indonesian people.

"The state budget will continue to be optimized as a mainstay instrument to answer various challenges for Indonesia's development," said Sri Mulyani, Tuesday (13/2).