Airlangga Says Prabowo's Free Lunch Program Included in 2025 State Budget

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto confirmed that the free lunch and milk program for school children will be included in the 2025 State Budget or APBN. The program is a campaign promise of presidential and vice presidential candidates number two Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

Prabowo-Gibran was committed to realizing the program if elected the new leader of Indonesia. The pair leads the General Election Commission's (KPU) real count as of 11 pm on Thursday, Feb. 22, with 58.89% of the national vote, while rivals Anies-Muhaimin had 24.06% and Ganjar-Mahfud had 17.05%.

The free lunch and milk program initiated by Prabowo-Gibran aims to cater to some 82.9 million students across Indonesia, including those of Islamic boarding schools or pesantren, and will require full funding up to Rp450 trillion per year.

“It is definitely included [in KEM-PPKF],” Airlangga said at the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs office in Jakarta, on Friday, February 23. 

KEM-PPKF is macroeconomic policy and fiscal policy principles. It is a document and initial step in preparing the State Budget.

Meanwhile, the government, through related ministries and institutions, is currently preparing the 2025 KEM-PPKF of the State Budget. The KEM-PPKF will be discussed next week. 

“There will be a cabinet meeting on Monday. So, let’s wait for Monday,” Airlangga Hartarto said.

AMELIA RAHIMA | YOHANES MAHARSO

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