As from next Monday, the government will begin paying out the yearly “Christmas Bonus”, the 13th paycheck of the year. The bonus, which is paid to everyone on the government payroll, including the police and armed forces will cost a total of RD$3.6 billion this year. Another part of the government’s largesse, thousands of boxes of food and Christmas goodies to be distributed in poor communities, will total another RD$600 million. Luis Manuel Bonetti, the President’s chief of staff made the announcement yesterday. The Presidential Social Plan will begin distribution of the Christmas packages later in the week. According to Bonetti, the head of the Presidential Social Plan Emigdio Sosa has set up nationwide distribution channels for the boxes. Each box will contain, among other things, five pounds of rice, a pound of cooking oil, two pounds of beans, a loaf of Christmas bread, a bottle of wine and another of rum. The information was transmitted to the public during the popular radio talk show “El gobierno de la manana,” which was broadcast live from the Presidential Palace. On yesterday’s show Bonetti said that the social plan had distributed over 1.2 million food packages that allow up to five persons to be fed, at a cost of RD$1.216 billion.