Airlangga Regarding The Ministry Of Free Lunch Program: What's Important Is Discussed By The State Budget First

ANTARA/Azmi Samsul Maarif

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto does not want to talk much about the free lunch program, which is Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka's campaign promise. He said the discussion of the budget was more important first.

This was conveyed by Airlangga when asked about the ministry that would be in charge of the program.

"The important thing is to discuss in the APBN first," said Airlangga briefly to reporters in Jakarta, Saturday, May 11.

Previously reported, the Ministry of National Development of the National Development Planning Agency (PPN/Bappenas) is preparing the integration of the draft work program during the program transition period carried by Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka. One of them is the free lunch which is the promise of the campaign for the selected pair for the 2024-2029 period.

"All these programs, including lunch, are included there, of course, according to the government's work plan mechanism based on law," explained Suharso at the 2024 National Development Planning Conference (Musrenbangnas) at the Jakarta Convention Center, Monday, May 6.

According to Suharso, the free lunch program has been included in his study. Among other things, taking into account the government's budget capacity in realizing the program.

Suharso conveyed that the first thing that was emphasized in the study was the target recipient of the lunch program and ensured that this program could be useful and on target. Then, what needs to be considered is the frequency of its implementation.

Then the nutritional standards for the implementation of the program are also a concern. One of them, how many calories must be available in free lunches to be distributed so that nutrition improvements can occur.