Spanish
Santo Domingo. - Representatives of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) reiterated this Tuesday their concern about the lack of responses and justice regarding the irregularities committed in the tenders of the School Lunch Program, under the responsibility of the National Institute of Student Welfare (INABIE), while warning that the mistakes of the past should not be repeated under the new administration.
The SME consultant Elizabeth Beriguete, representative of affected suppliers, emphasized that the dismissals of former officials Víctor Castro and Cecilio Rodríguez were based on documented evidence of corruption, which demonstrates that the complaints were not mere conjectures, but verifiable facts that damaged institutional credibility, the well-being of students, and the sustainability of suppliers.
They recalled that on July 15, 2025, they filed a formal complaint with the Specialized Prosecutor's Office for the Prosecution of Administrative Corruption (PEPCA), supported by a forensic audit, regarding alleged acts of corruption in INABIE under the management of Víctor Castro. In this action, they requested to initiate a criminal investigation against the institute and the officials who are responsible.
In their complaint, it was pointed out that the current management of INABIE has not shown interest in the so-called "deficient kitchens", nor the "ghosts", nor in the use of front men, nor in correcting the violations of the specific terms and conditions.
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They also warned that the concentration of more than 660,000 food rations persists, with a value exceeding RD$22 billion, in the hands of groups outside the MSME sector. In parallel, some 272 companies remain on a waiting list, 232 are disabled without clear grounds, and another 406 suffered arbitrary reductions in their contracts, which has directly impacted their operational and financial capacity. An emblematic case of these irregularities is that of the company El Sabor de Doña Ciri SRL, which was contracted and received an advance to supply 818,213 school rations, for an amount of RD$69.7 million. However, it was only allowed to deliver 316,400 rations, after a unilateral reduction of the contract, which left outstanding debts and serious economic losses.The affected suppliers, when stating their position, affirmed: “We will not accept a clean slate that ignores the evidence and the damage caused. MSMEs will not be silenced. We demand audit, repair, and transparency. The mistakes of the past cannot be repeated without consequences.” With this statement, they insisted that the credibility of INABIE and the future of the School Feeding Program depend on concrete actions that guarantee transparency, justice, and equity in the allocation of contracts.
