Economic Food Centers and UASD Sign Agreement to Benefit Students

Economic Food Centers and UASD Sign Agreement to Benefit Students
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 05/20/2013

The state-run Economic Food Centers and the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD) signed a cooperation agreement that will benefit students with limited resources on its campuses, centers and regional sub-centers by giving out free meals to students who are attending weekend classes.

Monchy explained at an event held by the Dominican Red Cross, that 80% of students did not meet the minimum requirements to be blood donors, which implies a serious health and nutrition problem.

Ramón Monchy Rodríguez, administrator for Economic Food Centers, said the pact signed with UASD has at its heart the sense and willingness of PresidentDanilo Medina Sánchez, who was educated in this public system, to provide meals to students of the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo.

Monchy explained at an event held by the Dominican Red Cross, that 80% of students did not meet the minimum requirements to be blood donors, which implies a serious health and nutrition problem.

He said the Economic Food Center, upon hearing this news, was dramatically motivated to reach an agreement aimed at strengthening the university education the young people of the nation are receiving.

This agreement is an example of institutionalism, solidarity and synergy of the State’s institutions to improve higher education with the goal of solving some of the Dominican nation’s problems.

University Rector, Mateo Aquino Febrillet, emphasized that he gladly signed this agreement, because it completes an important part of the university’s function.

The Rector said the current model of a university cannot function without an economic dining hall to guarantee feeding students from middle to lower class, especially ones who travel from marginalized communities far from the city then spend all day on campus carrying out their studies.

Monchy Rodríguez said the Economic Food Centers are serving food in the UASD’s regional centers in the communities of Puerto Plata, Santiago, Hato Mayor, Bonao, San Juan, Valverde Mao, Barahona, San Cristóbal andHiguey- nine in total. The monthly average of meals served is 35,734 with a total of 107,203 meals served during the months of February, March and April. The estimated investment totals at 7,504,210 pesos, with each lunch costing 10 pesos.

The agreement was signed by Ramón Monchy Rodríguez, general administrator for the State’s Economic Food Centers, and Mateo Aquino Febrillet, Rector of the UASD.

According to the agreement signed by both authorities, the Economic Food Centers promise to provide food rations to students in the UASD’s campuses, centers and regional sub-centers by during class hours on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays every week.

Likewise, Economic Food Centers will provide the facilities and establish plans to guarantee dining services in the agreed locations. The Food Centers will also support the UASD’s project “Hope and Solidarity,” by providing nutritious meals to students and university workers, wherever their activities take place.

This government organization will provide facilities and establish mechanisms for activities to increase participation among people involved in “Quisqueya Learn with Me,” a program set up by the Dominican Government.

UASD authorities agree to offer courses, specializations and training in food handling, basic health norms, environmental conditions, gastronomy, management and public dining administration.

The UASD promises to provide facilities and equipment to the Economic Food Centers and to resolve whatever technical issues that may arise while carrying out the objectives of the agreement.

Both parties promise to provide follow-up and coordinate activities for the implementation of the agreement, for which they will name representatives.