Low Income Food Centers Inaugurated in Puerto Plata

The authorities of the State’s Low Income Food Centers, also known as canteens, and the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo inaugurated a food center in the Regional Center of Puerto Plata to offer low cost services to the student population and to guarantee the nutritional needs of the poor residents in the neighborhoods in the city’s northern section. The agreement was signed between both institutions.

Dr. Franklin García Fermínbelieves this to be the first order in the opening of the canteen as it will guarantee a hot lunch for students who come from outlying villages on Saturday to the municipality of Puerto Plata.

Nicolás Calderón said the opening of the regional food center is an initiative of Dominican President Leonel Fernández. Through the agreement with the University, the Low Income Food Centers will use the university’s installations which were torn down and rebuilt. From this food center of the Regional Center, a daily meal will be cooked for the students as well as the general public in need.

He said that public access to the canteens of the Central Region will not be permitted because the university requires certain safety and control measures for the students that the food centers respect. Calderón thanked UASD authorities for support for having allowed them to set up their installations in a disinterested manner and for providing the use of their kitchen equipment, locale and furniture so that the students can benefit from low cost meals.

For Dr. Franklin García Fermín, putting into effect the first low income food center in the central region constitutes an occurrence of transcendental importance for the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo. In that the university will have access to the modern canteen that will offer services to students and the needy local people of Puerto Plata, he believes this to be the first order in the opening of the canteen as it will guarantee a hot lunch for students who come from outlying villages on Saturday to the municipality of Puerto Plata.

The opening act and cutting of the ribbon was overseen by the General Administrator of the food centers Nicolás Calderón and Franklin García Fermín, Rector of the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD).