"Some 106,000 persons eat lunch every day at the kitchens"
It is estimated that a meal means a savings of RD $110
Omar Santana
SANTO DOMINGO. The administrator general of the Economic Kitchens, Ramon "Monchy" Rodriguez, stated during his participation in the Dialogo Libre of the Diario Libre newspaper, that every day they distribute through some 35 mobile kitchens and eight teen distribution centers, between 105 and 106,000 rations which go to the poorest sectors.
He reported that from September 2012 until now they have distributed 12.8 million cooked meals and 1.2 million uncooked meals.
Rodriguez, as he described the profile of the Economic Kitchens, admitted that they are necessary due to the fact that quote our country has not overcome the poverty conditions or the unemployment levels, so that we have to supply those who live in conditions of poverty and marginality."
He recalled that the strategy to supply food to the poorest has its origin during the Trujillo Era, and was later continued by President Joaquin Balaguer in the decade of the 70s in last century, and was retaken by the current PLD governments. He assured the reporters that these foods go to the sectors "of the greatest economic vulnerability" and supply 55% of the calories of a 2000 calorie diet.
"We have added a Department of Nutritionists under the orders of Doctor Ines Abinader in order to be able to work with the nutritional component of these meals," said Rodriguez, while at the same time he stressed that the rations contain rice, beans, poultry, beef or pork, pastas and vegetables.
He pointed out that in the case of the cooked meals, they have a real cost for the state of between RD $65 and RD $67, while the recovery quota amounts to RD $10, which means that the cost to the public does not even represent 15% of its value.
He extrapolated the average price of a lunch in the market of the Dominican workers at RD $120 a day, which during 22.5 days a month means a per person cost of RD $2688 each month. At the same time the cost and the Economic Kitchens is RD $10 per day or RD $225 per month, which generates a savings of RD $2463 in comparison with the average price on the private market, a savings of 1200%.
He indicated that the current budget of the institution that he leads amounts to RD $1.4 billion of which 58% is invested in the purchase of food and beverages, 18% in salaries, and 17% is used to pay for basic services.
Jacomelo beans and Grade A rice
SD. The administrator of the Economic Kitchens reported during the Dialogo Libre that upon his arrival in the administration of the kitchens it was decided to elevate the quality of the products which are delivered to the beneficiaries of the program. "We buy class A rice. Before they bought regular rice, but we prefer to spend a little more and give the people better food," said Monchy Rodriguez.
He added that this has caused the people to be better fed and to elevate the quality of the service. The beans are of the ‘jacomelo' variety which are the most costly on the market, but also the best quality."
He stressed that another of the key points has been the creation of a Department of quality control and of inter-institutional agreements with the Institute of Innovation in Biotechnology and Industry, which have permitted the analysis of the products which are used for the preparation of the foods and which "makes sure that no beneficiary becomes sick."
Programs
The administrator of the Economic Kitchens said that at the present time they are carrying out several assistance programs, such as the University lunch in the regional centers of the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo, in which they have provided this year 887,000 rations at a cost of RD $57.6 million.
At the same time through churches of different denominations they have taken on the plan "Nobody goes to bed without dinner", which supports 804 single mothers who receive each month products necessary for dinner through uncooked rations. In this way they have delivered 9048 boxes. In addition they deliver food to 64 patients with chronic illness who are assigned a monthly purchase.
In order to increase the mobile kitchens, they have issued a tender for 15 more, in order to add them to the 35 already in existence, with the aim of carrying out operations of food assistance.
He reported that from September 2012 until now they have distributed 12.8 million cooked meals and 1.2 million uncooked meals.
Rodriguez, as he described the profile of the Economic Kitchens, admitted that they are necessary due to the fact that quote our country has not overcome the poverty conditions or the unemployment levels, so that we have to supply those who live in conditions of poverty and marginality."
He recalled that the strategy to supply food to the poorest has its origin during the Trujillo Era, and was later continued by President Joaquin Balaguer in the decade of the 70s in last century, and was retaken by the current PLD governments. He assured the reporters that these foods go to the sectors "of the greatest economic vulnerability" and supply 55% of the calories of a 2000 calorie diet.
"We have added a Department of Nutritionists under the orders of Doctor Ines Abinader in order to be able to work with the nutritional component of these meals," said Rodriguez, while at the same time he stressed that the rations contain rice, beans, poultry, beef or pork, pastas and vegetables.
He pointed out that in the case of the cooked meals, they have a real cost for the state of between RD $65 and RD $67, while the recovery quota amounts to RD $10, which means that the cost to the public does not even represent 15% of its value.
He extrapolated the average price of a lunch in the market of the Dominican workers at RD $120 a day, which during 22.5 days a month means a per person cost of RD $2688 each month. At the same time the cost and the Economic Kitchens is RD $10 per day or RD $225 per month, which generates a savings of RD $2463 in comparison with the average price on the private market, a savings of 1200%.
He indicated that the current budget of the institution that he leads amounts to RD $1.4 billion of which 58% is invested in the purchase of food and beverages, 18% in salaries, and 17% is used to pay for basic services.
Jacomelo beans and Grade A rice
SD. The administrator of the Economic Kitchens reported during the Dialogo Libre that upon his arrival in the administration of the kitchens it was decided to elevate the quality of the products which are delivered to the beneficiaries of the program. "We buy class A rice. Before they bought regular rice, but we prefer to spend a little more and give the people better food," said Monchy Rodriguez.
He added that this has caused the people to be better fed and to elevate the quality of the service. The beans are of the ‘jacomelo' variety which are the most costly on the market, but also the best quality."
He stressed that another of the key points has been the creation of a Department of quality control and of inter-institutional agreements with the Institute of Innovation in Biotechnology and Industry, which have permitted the analysis of the products which are used for the preparation of the foods and which "makes sure that no beneficiary becomes sick."
Programs
The administrator of the Economic Kitchens said that at the present time they are carrying out several assistance programs, such as the University lunch in the regional centers of the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo, in which they have provided this year 887,000 rations at a cost of RD $57.6 million.
At the same time through churches of different denominations they have taken on the plan "Nobody goes to bed without dinner", which supports 804 single mothers who receive each month products necessary for dinner through uncooked rations. In this way they have delivered 9048 boxes. In addition they deliver food to 64 patients with chronic illness who are assigned a monthly purchase.
In order to increase the mobile kitchens, they have issued a tender for 15 more, in order to add them to the 35 already in existence, with the aim of carrying out operations of food assistance.
Omar Santana
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