DIGIVESTASI - Verdhana Sekuritas economist Heriyanto Irawan said that he was invited to discuss the free nutritious meal program for children by President-elect Prabowo Subianto's synchronization team. One of the main topics was Prabowo's efforts to streamline the Rp 71 trillion budget so that it can be optimally utilized and reach more children. “I would like to share that the figure was indeed discussed with Mr. Prabowo, which was conveyed to me. The figure of Rp 71 trillion and a deficit of 2.5 percent, not 3 percent or 3.5 percent. They have agreed on that,” said Heriyanto in the Market Outlook 2024 program broadcast via YouTube channel, Tuesday (16/7/2024).

Heriyanto saw that there was a strong desire from Prabowo to run the free nutritious meal program optimally without increasing or reducing the Rp 71 trillion budget. During the discussion, the synchronization team considered lowering the allocation of food costs per child from the planned Rp 15,000 to Rp 7,500.

“What is interesting to me is that after the figure of Rp 71 trillion is communicated, the task of the President-elect's economic team is to think about whether the cost of food per day can be lowered, more economically than Rp 15,000,” said Heriyanto. “Maybe to Rp 9,000 or Rp 7,500. As a politician, of course he wants this program to reach as many people as possible,” he added.

Heriyanto realizes that efficiency is needed so that the free nutritious meal program can run gradually with the existing budget. This effort is also considered a good step from the next government to maintain the sustainability of the state budget. “What is important is his thinking to push the program within the budget limitations of Rp 71 trillion, without pushing it to Rp 200 trillion or Rp 300 trillion,” he explained. The Prabowo-Gibran Synchronization Task Force Team confirmed that the free nutritious meal program will be implemented in stages with a budget of Rp 71 trillion next year. However, the details of the program implementation and budget have not been explained.

Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto stated that the free lunch program will be implemented flexibly, following the budget ceiling allocated in the state budget. “In the RAPBN (nutritious meal budget) it is still the same, but the implementation will be flexible,” he said at the Office of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, Jakarta, Tuesday (16/7/2024).

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