Jakarta. The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) faces mounting pressure to secure new funding for President Prabowo Subianto's flagship free meals program after the Constitutional Court ruled that it can no longer rely on the national education budget beginning in the 2028 fiscal year.

The ruling comes as the agency grapples with a series of setbacks, including three leadership changes within two months, repeated mass food poisoning incidents, a corruption investigation involving its former leadership, and payment disputes with food suppliers.

BGN chief Sudaryono, who has been in office for just two weeks, said the agency would "make the most of the available funding" following the court's decision, although he did not elaborate on alternative financing plans.

The program has already consumed Rp 101.1 trillion ($5.6 billion) during the first half of 2026 alone. The government has allocated Rp 229 trillion ($12.8 billion) for the program this year, much of it drawn from the education budget.

Economists say the ruling will force the government to rethink how the ambitious program is financed as the number of beneficiaries continues to grow.

Economist Yusuf Rendy Manilet suggested expanding private-sector participation through corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs, grants, and partnerships with state-owned enterprises to build public kitchens and strengthen food supply chains.

"We should also consider blended finance. But private-sector participation must complement -- not replace -- the government's responsibility. Relying too heavily on businesses could leave remote and less profitable regions underserved," Yusuf told the Jakarta Globe.

Public policy expert Trubus Rahardiansyah also supported broader public-private partnerships and a reallocation of existing government spending. However, he cautioned against relying on foreign financial assistance.

"Foreign grants are possible, but they usually come with expectations. Donors may seek involvement in oversight or management, raising questions about national sovereignty," he said.

Private-sector involvement has already begun. The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) says its members have established 866 free-meal kitchens nationwide, including 128 in remote areas.

Civil society coalition MBG Watch, however, remains focused on the Constitutional Court's ruling. The coalition argues that the Constitution requires at least 20% of the state budget to be allocated to education, while the court has determined that building public kitchens, procuring food, and distributing meals are not education expenditures and therefore must be financed separately.

MBG Watch's Isnawati Hidayah said the ruling should have taken effect immediately rather than after a two-year transition.

"Delaying implementation until 2028 only gives BGN more time to spend education funds inefficiently," she said.

Some parents have also questioned whether the program should continue to be universal.

Yakob Dwi Hananto, a father of two from Tangerang, said assistance should be targeted at children from low-income families rather than those in affluent urban areas.

"I don't think Rp 100 trillion can provide quality meals for every child in Indonesia. The money would have a much greater impact if it focused on children whose families genuinely struggle to provide nutritious food," he said.

Another parent in Bekasi, who declined to be identified, said her biggest concern was food safety after repeated food poisoning incidents that have affected about 38,000 beneficiaries since the program began in early 2025.

"A program intended to improve children's nutrition should never put their lives at risk," she said.

Since taking office, Sudaryono has dealt with two major food poisoning incidents affecting more than 1,200 students and teachers in Semarang and Jayapura. He has closed 833 public kitchens, dismissed 137 kitchen managers for failing to meet hygiene standards, and pledged "zero tolerance" for food safety violations.

On Aug. 5, Sudaryono met Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin to strengthen cooperation on menu planning, nutritional standards, food safety, hygiene and sanitation, and the deployment of nutrition experts throughout the production and distribution process to reduce the risk of food poisoning and improve meal quality.

"We have zero tolerance for food poisoning and corruption. We are building a system based on the principle that trust is good, but control is better," he said.

"My commitment after taking office is to provide transparent information to all relevant stakeholders. Parents, health offices, education offices, teachers, and school principals should know what meals students receive today, what they received yesterday, what they will receive tomorrow, the nutritional content, where the meals are prepared, and who is responsible," he said.

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