Gibran Seeks to Expand Free Nutritious Meal Programme in Asmat, Papua, Partnering with Churches and School Canteens

Vice President (Wapres) Gibran Rakabuming Raka has stated he will continue to champion the implementation of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme in frontier, outermost, and underdeveloped (3T) regions, such as Asmat Regency, noting the potential to cooperate with local churches. “We need to highlight here that we are fighting for the priority programmes of the President in 3T areas. MBG, for example, must be championed here in Asmat,” Gibran told reporters after inspecting the Sago Field School in Asmat Regency on Sunday, 21 June 2026. Regarding the implementation of MBG in the region, Gibran said there is potential to carry out the programme in cooperation with local churches and school canteens. By involving various parties in the execution of MBG, it is hoped that the reach of President Prabowo Subianto’s priority programme can be expanded. During the visit, Gibran also invited five students from various public and private universities to see first-hand the conditions at the grassroots level, especially in 3T regions. “So, the President’s programmes will be championed in 3T areas, and after returning from Asmat, we will follow up again,” he said. On the same occasion, Asmat Regent Thomas E. Safanpo stated that his administration sees a need for the implementation of MBG, particularly in 3T areas like Asmat. “As a regent in a 3T area—underdeveloped, outermost, and frontier—we feel that this MBG is indeed of great benefit to our community here, especially for schoolchildren, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers,” he said. Thomas explained that before MBG began to be distributed in several schools in Asmat Regency, the student absenteeism rate was quite high. However, after the introduction of MBG, attendance increased because students knew they would enjoy lunch at school. Meanwhile, providing MBG to pregnant and breastfeeding mothers in his region will help reduce the stunting rate in Asmat Regency.