Government Food Distribution Program for Poor Families in Santiago

Government Food Distribution Program for Poor Families in Santiago
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 4/15/2012

In the presence of Rafael Alburquerque, Vice President in Charge of Executive Power, the Economic Food Centers of the State handed over 2,000 rations of food to the needy families in the poor neighborhoods of Santiago, Tamboril and Villa González, who were affected by the torrential rains that have fallen recently in the Cibao region. This food delivery was made possible with a budget of 2.7 million pesos.

Residents from the five neighborhoods of Villa González received non-perishable goods. The five areas were Arenquillo Arriba & Arenquillo Abajo, La Javilla, Banegas and the La Lava sector.

Vice President Alburquerque was with the Administrator of the Economic Food Centers, Nicolás Calderón; Province Governor, Raúl Martínez and deputy administrator and manager of the food centers of Cibao, Ramón Jiménez. They are leading the food distribution project, fulfilling instructions of Dominican President Leonel Fernández, by providing help to disadvantaged Dominicans who live in vulnerable areas and need a friendly helping hand from the government.

Throughout the trip round the area, Alburquerque offered his support to those affected by the heavy rains. He assured them they will have all the support of President Leonel Fernández and the Dominican government to help them out of this difficult situation.

Residents from the five neighborhoods of Villa González received non-perishable goods. The five areas were Arenquillo Arriba & Arenquillo Abajo, La Javilla, Banegas and the La Lava sector.

Likewise, residents of Hoyo de la Julia and la Cañada del Diablo in Santiago and residents in La Cacata and Arena sections of Tamboril, also received rations made up of products that form part of the basic food basket such as rice, beans, oil, garlic, salsa, spaghetti and other foodstuffs.

Since last Thursday, the Economic Food Centers provided thousands of cooked meals to families affected by the rains. They sent various Mobile Food Program units to the affected areas to meet the food demands of the people there. At the moment, they are running two mobile kitchens in Villa González, one in the Cien Fuego sector, one in La Otra Banda and the other in Cañada del Diablo, in the city of Santiago.

Last Wednesday, April 11^th , the government agency distributed some 5,000 cooked meals while on Thursday the 12th they delivered 15,000 in just the city of Villa González. The Economic Food Centers is planning to produce around 50,000 cooked meals in the area for as long as this food supply operation is underway.