Vice President Margarita Cedeno has announced that the subsidy called “Food Comes First” is being increased by RD$125 a month, going from RD$700 to RD$825. This is part of the National Strategy for Poverty Reduction and Citizen Training, managed by the Cabinet for the Coordination of the Government’s Social Policies. Speaking at a press conference in the Orlando Martinez Hall of the Presidential Palace yesterday, Tuesday 11 June, Cedeno announced the measure, saying that the RD$125 a month increase would have a positive impact on 624,166 low-income households in the country. It will represent an increase of RD$78 million a month for the focused monetary transfers. “This increase comes with an increase in the co-responsibilities and the commitments of the beneficiary families, such as PAP smear testing and mammograms for beneficiaries over 35 years of age, and taking iron and folic acid for pregnant women,” she said.