Soaring Costs: BGN Needs Rp116.6tn for Free Nutritious Meal Program by Year-End

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Dadan Hindayana, Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), projected that the budget absorption for the free nutritious meal program will need to reach Rp116,649,693,148,000 or Rp116.6 trillion by the end of 2025.

"If we follow the planned mechanisms for nutritious meals, the required budget will be approximately Rp116.6 trillion," Dadan stated during a hearing with the House of Representatives' Commission IX on Tuesday, May 6, 2025.

This fund increases from the initial government allocation of Rp71 trillion. According to Dadan, this larger sum is necessary to reach the target of providing free nutritious meals to 82.9 million beneficiaries.

As of May 5, 2025, Dadan reported that the program had reached 3,506,941 people. "Right now, there is Rp71 trillion, and an additional Rp51 trillion is sufficient to serve all beneficiaries until December," he explained.

Out of the allocated budget of Rp71 trillion, Dadan noted that the free nutritious meal program has only utilized Rp2.386 trillion, or approximately 3.36 percent. He aims for a gradual increase in budget absorption throughout the remainder of the year, with targets set for each month leading up to December.

Dadan's projections for budget absorption are as follows: Rp4.71 trillion in June, Rp16 trillion in July, Rp18 trillion in August, Rp51 trillion in September, Rp60 trillion in October, and Rp88 trillion in November.

"Therefore, our total allocation is not limited to the approved Rp71 trillion but exceeds that amount," Dadan clarified. He is currently developing additional budget mechanisms to ensure the program can reach its goal of serving 82.9 million beneficiaries.

Editor's Choice: Prabowo Claims 99.99% Success Rate for Free Nutritious Meal Program

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News

Free Meal Poisoning Case, Prabowo Alludes to Students Eating Without Spoons

12 jam lalu

Prabowo: Bill Gates to Support Free Nutritious Meal Program in Indonesia

14 jam lalu

Prabowo Claims 99.99% Success Rate for Free Nutritious Meal Program

22 jam lalu

BGN Chief Aims for Zero Accidents in Free Nutritious Meal Program

1 hari lalu

Prabowo Holds Plenary Cabinet Session at Palace This Afternoon

1 hari lalu

BPOM Urges Community Health Centers to Monitor Free Nutritious Meals Program

2 hari lalu

KPAI Urges Daily Oversight of Free Nutritious Meals Program Amid Poisoning Cases

3 hari lalu

Indonesian Govt Disburses Rp2.3tn for Free Nutritious Meals per April 2025

6 hari lalu

Food Poisoning: Know the 6 Common Bacteria and How to Avoid Them

9 hari lalu

BGN Mulls Involving School Cafeterias in Free Nutritious Meal Operation

11 hari lalu