The Fernandez government kicked off its welfare program, “Comer es Primero” (Eating Comes First) with the distribution of debit cards with a balance of RD$550 available for use by 6,000 poor families in the Los Guandules slum. This is a pilot program. The debit cards can be used to purchase food in grocery stores that are participating in the program. Fernandez guaranteed the program will not be affected by corruption since there is no handling of cash. The plan is to extend this pilot program to 25,000 families before the end of the year. Eventually, some 250,000 families will benefit from the program that runs under the new Unique Benefit System (Siuben), that is identifying low-income potential beneficiaries nationwide.
In addition to purchasing groceries at participating neighborhood grocery shops, the debit cards can also be used to buy propane gas at subsidized prices, get funds available to assist parents with children in public schools, for social security programs, among others to be included in coming months.