Spanish
Santo Domingo. – In response to recent reports of alleged irregularities, the National Institute of Student Welfare (INABIE) reported that the tenders for the contracting of school meals for 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 were carried out in accordance with Law 340-06 on Purchases and Contracting, therefore denying any handling outside the terms of the conditions.
In that sense, the institution explained that there was no exclusion of 1,493 educational centers as alleged by the complainants, so there is no reduction.
Currently, a total of 7,033 educational centers benefit from the School Feeding Program (PAE) nationwide, impacting more than two million beneficiaries, which demonstrates the sustainability of this social policy.
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Furthermore, the awards were made in compliance with the technical criteria of the specifications and not to any other particular interest. All tenders for the contracting of the PAE were carried out with the due budgetary support, thus complying with the requirements of the current regulations.Increase SMEs
Regarding the number of awards, only in terms of school lunches, the tenders carried out in 2024 show a preliminary increase of 40% given that more than 1,590 kitchens were contracted compared to 2022 when the total was about 1,139, according to preliminary data. However, the number of PAE suppliers, including those from bakeries and liquid companies, among others, exceeds 3,000, with more than 95% being micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), which reflects a reality different from the supposed bankruptcy of this sector. With this, the historical number of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) that offer services to the institution has been surpassed. In addition to this, the micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) that supply food have greater profitability, given that they all have 500 or more rations, unlike in the past when sometimes only up to 100 rations were awarded. In addition, they receive payment of their advances on time and the invoices whose files are delivered without errors are settled within 45-60 days.Food Quality
The INABIE also highlights that the quality of school meals is currently showing significant progress, as evidenced by the reduction to a minimum of cases of poisoning, with food being one of the main incentives that contribute to the increase in class attendance. Specifically, reductions have been made in sugars, salts, and fats, and for the first time, fresh fruits of national production were incorporated, which was the only food group that was missing.
