The Executive Branch enacted the law that seeks to strengthen community kitchens and centers, ensuring the necessary resources so that they continue to provide assistance in different communities.
President Mario Abdo Benítez signed the decree that promulgates Law No. 6,945 “Community Dining Rooms and Centers”, sanctioned on June 23 by the National Congress.
This law will ensure food for people in situations of poverty and vulnerability at the national level, especially minors up to 18 years of age, older adults and other social groups such as people with disabilities and indigenous people.
The popular pots that were promoted during the COVID-19 pandemic will be transformed into permanent attention centers thanks to this regulation, just as the community kitchens that are attended by the Ministry of Social Development (MDS) have been operating for some years.
Likewise, the community centers will cover other aspects of social protection such as health care, school support for children and adolescents, the development of cultural and sports activities to encourage social and territorial integration.
It is worth mentioning that the Ministry of Social Development delivers products to community kitchens on a bimonthly basis through the Support Project for Community Organizations Kitchens (PACOC), implemented throughout the country.
In 2020, thanks to the law to support and assist popular pots, a total of 127,357 kilos of supplies were provided to 186 organizations, reaching some 29,700 people. In 2021, the temporary kitchens (popular pots) increased by 1,609, which provided food to 194,538 people and received 1,067,776 kilos of non-perishable food.
According to data from the MDS, from January to May of this year some 493 organizations provided food coverage to 57,937 people and received 255,683 kilos of supplies, through PACOC, in 16 departments and the country’s capital.
