The government institution, which oversees a broad social labor plan, made available an additional RD$10 million pesos to the amount it had already invested before the extension of the Book Fair to purchase books with the lottery tickets.

The availability of tickets valued at RD$300.00 will be extended until Friday May 9 when the Book Fair comes to an end.

Ramón Rivas, General Administrator of the National Lottery, designated the additional amount due to the success of the program which enables students from all over the country to buy books in large quantities from the bookshops participating in the 11th International Book Fair of Santo Domingo 2008.

The availability of tickets valued at RD$300.00 will be extended until Friday May 9 when the Book Fair comes to an end. The program that provides transportation for students to the Book Fair and offers them a snack and the possibility of a Metro ride will also stay in place until the Fair ends.

According to the institution, the program had benefitted some 25,000 students as of May 4th. Students were transported to the Book Fair from all 31 of the country’s provinces.

With this extra infusion of cash, the Lottery expects to benefit up to 60,000 students. This number includes not just the public schools but also adult education programs, handicapped children’s centers and members of community and cultural organizations among others.