The Chamber of Senators approved with modifications the bill called “Soup kitchens and community centers”. It establishes that the places that organized popular pots during the pandemic become community centers.
Representatives of the “Articulation of Popular Pots” were meeting with legislators and held a vigil in the vicinity of Congress during the treatment of the project. They argue that the popular pots are not only important for the food they provide, but also because they represent spaces where other problems such as violence, education and health are channeled.
DEBATE
Stephan Rasmussen, national senator for the Patria Querida party, affirmed for his part that the project was even elaborated with the same social organizations.
“We must remove the half sanction today because the soup kitchens are a reality. What is sought is to strengthen support and provide a budget for this initiative that is carried out almost daily. What worries us is that this will take more time. We were analyzing various proposals for modifications”, he commented.
The source of financing will be G. 11 billion, through a reprogramming within a consultancy item of the Ministry of Finance, which will be allocated to the Ministry of Social Development (MDS).
Desirée Masi, national senator for the PDP, stressed that these organizations supply the State in many aspects, but warned that the resources must be controlled to avoid irregular management.
“When many requirements begin to be requested, people end up asking for an intermediary from some NGO, just to present the papers, and this has a cost. That is why the Ministry of Social Development must make sure that the money or food arrives”, he commented.
Esperanza Martínez, a national senator for the Guasu Front, urged that these centers hold talks of all kinds so that they also have a social impact.
“These are the true health centers, because the others are disease centers. Surely the budget will not reach 100%, but it will be useful to take the first step”, he stated.
With the approval of the Chamber of Senators, the document now goes to the Chamber of Deputies.
DESIGNERS
The bill was presented by Stephan Rasmussen, Fidel Zavala, Georgia Arrúa, José Ledesma, Arnaldo Franco, Patrick Kemper, Martín Arévalo, Esperanza Martínez, Jorge Querey, Hermelinda Alvarenga, Silvio Ovelar, Lucas Aquino and Juan Afara.
