 |
|
|
 News Around the Republic of Mexico | January 2007 
Energy & Corn Subsidies Launched
 El Universal
| | Since being sworn in, Calderón has taken a number of measures to fight poverty, including creating a program to support development in the 100 poorest municipalities. |
President Felipe Calderón on Wednesday launched a US$275 million initiative to subsidize the energy costs of 5 million poor households.
The subsidy, which fulfills one of Calderón´s campaign promises, will go to families registered for the Opportunities Program that provides education, food and health assistance.
The program will be retroactive to Jan. 1, the president said in a ceremony at Los Pinos, his official residence.
Calderón said the subsidy program would increase the assistance received by nearly 25 million poor Mexicans by 30 percent and represented a 10-percent hike in the budget of the Opportunities Program.
"By providing support for energy expenditures and freeing up family resources, they will have additional economic resources that can be destined for purposes that they themselves freely determine," the president said.
Calderón reiterated his commitment to channeling public spending to the sectors of society most in need of them, saying that "the eradication of extreme poverty is not just an obligation of our generation, it´s imperative for justice and prosperity in the country."
Since being sworn in on Dec. 1 for a six-year term, Calderón has taken a number of measures to fight poverty, including creating a program to support development in the 100 poorest municipalities.
Gov’t to Subsidize 176,000 Tons of Corn for Poor
El Universal
Facing rising popular ire over a sharp hike in the price of corn and tortillas, the government said it will sell 176,000 tons of the staple grain at less than half the market price among the poorest quarter of the nation´s inhabitants.
The subsidized corn will sell for 3.5 pesos (US$0.32) per kilo (2.2 pounds), while the market price is slightly above 8 pesos.
Social Development Secretary Beatriz Zavala made the announcement to a congressional panel. She said the sales would be made through the publicly funded Diconsa chain of stores that sells subsidized products to the poor.
The stores, which sell reduced-price beans, rice, powdered milk, sugar and other products and are present in some 22,000 mostly rural communities, serve 25 million people, about one-quarter of the population.
Economy Secretary Eduardo Sojo told the same panel the Calderón administration also has decided to raise from 650,000 tons to 750,000 the amount of corn to be imported in the effort to stem the price hike. He said 300,000 tons will come from the United States and Canada and the rest will come from other nations, depending on market factors.
Officials, grain producers, distributors and retailers last week signed a pact to stabilize the price of corn.
The price rise led to announcements that producers and distributors of eggs, meat and other products would raise their prices since corn is used to feed and fatten chickens and other livestock.
The administration also launched "Health Caravans" to provide medical care to people in rural communities. |
| |
|
Vallarta Weddings
Tell a Friend
Site Map
Print this Page
Email Us