The authorities of the Ministry of Social Development (Mides) declared on several occasions that they did not have sufficient funds to complete the payments to the beneficiaries of the Integral Development program. After the approval and sanction of the reform to the law that gave life to the initiative, the portfolio will request the resources to complete the payments of the months they owe.
There are three installments pending payment, corresponding to May, June and July. The director of the Social Development Fund (Fodes), which belongs to the portfolio, Carlos Orantes, stated that the Ministry of Finance informed them that there are Q140 million available for that purpose, during a meeting in Congress with Elmer Palencia and Jorge Ayala of the Valor bench.
With the transferred amount, Mides will be able to complete the three payments owed to the 44,100 beneficiaries registered in the initiative so far. The latest reform of the law allows the Finance portfolio to transfer funds from cash balances to ensure the payments.
Deputy Palencia explained that Mides will request funds to complete payments at the next Budget Execution Programming Committee (Copep) and it is expected that by the end of August they will have the funds to complete the payments.
The program consists of former military personnel carrying out activities related to reforestation in exchange for a payment of Q1,000 per month for three years; in total, each beneficiary will receive Q36,000. In March of last year, the first payment was made after the law was approved to a group of nearly 3,000 people who were the first to receive support.
New registrations
The reform of the law also opened the possibility of reopening registrations for 45 more days. The registration period for those interested in being part of the program began again on August 5 and will close on October 8.
Official information indicates that the procedure can be carried out in person at any of the central or departmental offices. The requirements are to present the original and valid Personal Identification Document (DPI), certification of 18 months of service as troop personnel, cell phone number, complete the Mides form and, if applicable, proof of disability issued by a national health center or hospital.
The ministry maintains that the procedure cannot be carried out through third parties and that it is completely free.
The meeting also addressed the issue of registrations due to complaints that Deputy Palencia has received regarding the lack of staff to assist interested parties. The Deputy commented that the authorities were suggested to improve logistics.
The approval of the reform of the law took place in July in a context in which the Executive maintained that the budget increase was necessary to guarantee the payments of the program. In addition, there were some protests by the ex-military who demanded that they be paid.
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