Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Dadan Hindayana, told lawmakers on Tuesday that the government aims to serve nutritious meals to 82.9 million beneficiaries by the end of 2025 through its rapidly expanding food assistance program.

Speaking during a hearing with the House of Representatives’ Commission IX on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, Dadan said the agency currently operates 1,286 Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPGs) across 38 provinces, reaching 3.5 million people, with plans to expand this to over 6 million by the end of May and eventually 82.9 million by November.

“Our goal is ambitious, but we are confident,” Dadan told the lawmakers. “With strong partnerships, solid infrastructure, and trained personnel, we can reach this target.”

He cited that all existing facilities have been built and operated through partnerships with local Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), particularly those in the food and beverage industry. Infrastructure expansion using public funds is underway, with 1,542 new units planned this year.

The program relies heavily on three key pillars: adequate budget, trained human resources, and robust infrastructure. While the agency currently has a budget of Rp71 trillion (US$4.44 billion), it estimates a total need of Rp116 trillion (US$7.25 billion) to serve the full target. “We are prepared to meet this with support from both the national budget and our partners,” he added.

To ensure efficiency and transparency, BGN has adopted a virtual account system for financial transactions. Funds are disbursed in 10-day cycles, with strict reporting and verification mechanisms in place to prevent misuse. “All transactions are now traceable and digital,” Dadan said.

The agency is also addressing recent food safety incidents, including cases in Sukoharjo, Batang, Cianjur, Bandung, and Pali, by tightening protocols on food sourcing, storage, and delivery timelines. “Our goal is zero incidents. We are increasing supervision and retraining food handlers regularly,” he said.

As of early May, BGN had only absorbed Rp2.386 trillion (roughly US$149 million) of its 2025 budget, but expects disbursement to accelerate in the coming months, namely Rp88 trillion (US$5.5 billion) in November and Rp116 trillion (US$7.25 billion) by December.

“This program is one of the largest national-scale nutrition efforts we’ve seen,” Dadan concluded. “It is not just about feeding children − it’s about building a healthy generation.”