President Targets MBG Program to Reach All Villages by the End of 2026

JAKARTA - President Prabowo Subianto targets the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program to be felt by all beneficiaries in Indonesia by the end of December 2026.

The President said that MBG has reached 55 million beneficiaries. This achievement was obtained in just one year. Meanwhile, the government has a target of 82.9 million beneficiaries consisting of schoolchildren, pregnant and lactating mothers, and the elderly.

"Our target, December 2026 all villages get MBG. Hopefully it can be faster, but in December we have to feed all Indonesian children and all pregnant mothers and all elderly parents as well," said the President as reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, January 7.

The President apologized to the Indonesian people who have not been able to feel the MBG program. However, he ensured that all villages would soon get MBG as planned.

"When I came, many people also shouted 'Sir, our village has not received MBG'. I apologize for our ability, but God willing, in 2026 all villages in Indonesia will receive MBG," he added.

Previously, President Prabowo stated that the beneficiaries of the MBG program had reached 55 million people as of January 5, 2026 or one year since the priority program was first launched on January 6, 2025.

The President stated that this achievement was an achievement, considering that Brazil took up to 11 years to be able to provide free lunch (PNAE) to 40 million schoolchildren.

"Today there are 55 million beneficiaries (in) Indonesia, which means it is the same as feeding eight times (people, red.) Singapore. Every day, we feed 55 million (people, red.) brothers. The President of Brazil conveyed to me, they reached 40 million (recipients) in 11 years. We, 55 million in one year, because we started on January 6, 2025. Today is January 5, 2026," said President Prabowo in his speech in Jakarta, Monday (5/1).

On the same occasion, the President again recounted the appreciation given by various parties to the MBG Indonesia program, including from the renowned US research institution, the Rockefeller Institute.

Experts from the Rockefeller Institute, the President continued, deliberately came to Indonesia to see firsthand the implementation of MBG in schools.

The expert from the Rockefeller Institute then conveyed to the President that the money invested in the MBG program could generate a multiplier effect of up to 5-35 times.