Jakarta. As President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka mark their first year in office, public policy expert Trubus Rahardiansyah praised the government’s flagship Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program as well-targeted and impactful.

Trubus said the initiative addresses real community needs, especially among children from low-income families. “The MBG program meets public expectations. The enthusiasm is high, particularly among underprivileged children who can now enjoy nutritious meals,” Trubus said on Friday.

Despite earlier reports of suspected food poisoning cases, Trubus highlighted the need for stronger management to ensure the program’s long-term success. He suggested involving competent institutions such as schools, Islamic boarding schools, the military (TNI), or the police (Polri), which already have adequate infrastructure.

He also emphasized that the program should focus more on food quality rather than quantity, prioritizing children in remote, frontier, and underdeveloped regions, commonly known as 3T areas. “The program should first target children in 3T and rural regions, while schools in urban areas with middle- to upper-class students can be scheduled later,” he said.

With improved governance and targeted implementation, Trubus expressed hope that the MBG program will further enhance public welfare, particularly for children most in need.