The US government will donate approximately 75,000 metric tons of US commodities valued at RD$264 to the Dominican government. Funds generated from the goods will be used to improve the health and nutrition of Dominican children. Ambassador Charles Manatt of the US made the announcement at a ceremony symbolically held at the Liceo Estados Unidos. Present were Vice President, Minister of Education Milagros Ortiz Bosch and Technical Secretary Rafael Calderon. The donation is part of President Clinton’s Global Food for Education Initiative that is being implemented in 38 countries, with US$300 million in grants to promote better nutrition and school enrollment for needy children in developing countries. The money will be used to increase number of beneficiaries of breakfast programs at public schools. "It’s quite simple: children cannot learn on empty stomachs," declared Ambassador Manatt. The Dominican Technical Secretariat will oversee the sale of most of the commodities. The Program Executive Council (CEP), the governing body of this program consisting of the U.S. government as represented by the Foreign Agricultural Service and the USAID, the Technical Secretariat of the Presidency and the Ministry of Education, will review and award grants from the proceeds of the sale to community-based groups, NGOS and government institutions with strong, effective proposals for school food distribution activities in their communities.
