Indonesia’s Free Nutritious Meals: $1.3 Billion Spent in Nine Months, Jobs Rising, Safety Rules Coming This Week

JAKARTA, Investortrust.id - Indonesia has spent Rp 21.64 trillion, equal to $1.30 billion, on its Free Nutritious Meals program in the first nine months through Friday, Oct 3, 2025, and the government targets a presidential regulation this week to tighten oversight after poisoning cases deemed an extraordinary event, while officials say the rollout is creating jobs and lifting local food supply chains.

The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) said total outlays had reached 34 percent of this year’s Rp 71 trillion allocation ($4.28 billion), including Rp 18.63 trillion ($1.12 billion) in direct assistance paid to recipients. National Nutrition Agency Head Dadan Hindayana said the program had reached more than a third of targeted beneficiaries in its first nine months.

“As of today, spending stands at Rp 21.64 trillion, which is 34 percent of the allocation,” Dadan said after meeting the National Economic Council in Jakarta. “For the government’s direct assistance component, it is about Rp 18.63 trillion, covering 37 percent of the intended beneficiaries over nine months.”

National Economic Council Chairman Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said faster disbursement was essential for fiscal efficiency and for the program’s multiplier effects. “The finance minister should not have to claw back unused allocations - idle funds carry a cost of funds.

Money that is budgeted has to move,” he said. Luhut added that better execution would support farmers and small suppliers as kitchen units buy eggs, bananas, fish, and vegetables from nearby producers. “From the data we saw today there are almost no shortages. We are accelerating processes so local producers can supply consistently. Local governments will be more directly involved,” he said.

Employment gains have begun to show. “If I am not mistaken, the program has already absorbed around 380,000 workers. That helps a great deal at a time when the global economy is uncertain,” Luhut said. He pointed to a pilot in Banyuwangi that used artificial intelligence to validate beneficiary data. “We just linked this with BGN so all national data will be integrated,” he said.

Dadan said a presidential regulation was being finalized to clarify mandates across institutions in response to recent poisoning incidents that the government designated an extraordinary event. “I believe the presidential regulation on governance will be completed this week,” Dadan said.

“It will set out the roles of each institution - BGN will act as the implementer and the Health Ministry will oversee supervision, while regional governments prepare infrastructure and support local farmers, fishers, and livestock producers.”

He said the Agriculture Ministry would focus on boosting farm output and the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry would secure fish supplies. “With this regulation, no agency will be uncertain about its role, and everything will be coordinated by a central team,” Dadan said.

Health safeguards are being tightened. BGN has made hygiene and sanitation certification mandatory for all kitchen units known as Satuan Pelayanan Pemenuhan Gizi (SPPG), following poisoning cases in several regions. “There are still things to improve, but the data is looking more accurate,” Luhut said, urging the public not to be pessimistic. “It has only been nine months.”

Legislative leaders also pressed for stronger governance. Speaker of the House Puan Maharani called for a full review and a swift legal umbrella so ministries and agencies can coordinate. “This program is good for improving children’s nutrition, but the process and mechanism must be totally reviewed,” Puan said after a plenary session in Jakarta.

“Parliament has asked for a presidential regulation as the legal umbrella, and I have been informed it will be issued soon so that all relevant ministries and institutions can work together to minimize - even eliminate - future poisoning cases.”

On the ground, the program has restored livelihoods while easing household costs. Junaedi, a 28-year-old cook in Bogor who lost his restaurant job during the pandemic, joined a local nutrition kitchen eight months ago. “I am happy to be working again, especially since the goal is to distribute nutritious food to schoolchildren,” he said.

“I am proud of this job. My own child sometimes went to school without breakfast - now I know he and other children will always eat.”

Rukmini, 29, who handles packaging at the same unit, described a similar turnaround. “I used to spend my days at home without work. Now I can support my family, and my children also receive free meals at school,” she said. “This program should not stop. Many people depend on it.”