Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – True to his word, Puerto Vallarta Mayor Arturo Dávalos Peña has implemented a food distribution program to help 7,500 families in the city’s most vulnerable sectors survive the impact of the COVID-19 health contingency. The first delivery is scheduled for today.
After a weekend meeting with the heads of municipal dependencies, institutes and OPD’s to define the support program’s strategy and distribution system, Mayor Dávalos visited the food storage warehouse on Monday to supervise the arrival of the first trailer of the provisions that will fill the despensas, and to oversee the many big-hearted volunteers who were assembling them.
These ‘care packages,’ filled with food staples like rice, beans, canned goods and basic necessities, will be delivered to 21 Centros de Apoyo Alimentario (Food Support Centers) in different parts of the municipality for distribution to vulnerable families under the coordination of Candelaria Tovar de Dávalos, the president of the Puerto Vallarta Family Development System (DIF) and Víctor Bernal Vargas, the director of Social Development.
Dávalos Peña reiterated that this program was developed to help the families that need it most, but in order to receive this support, one must call 322-178-8010 or 178-8000 (option 9) in advance to schedule an appointment, at which time instructions for when and where to pick up the despensa will be given.
He said that this procedure was devised to avoid crowds of people gathering together in one place and is necessary to ensure the food packages are distributed to those who need them in a safe, orderly and organized manner.
The Mayor explained that the city plans to make three deliveries to the Centros de Apoyo Alimentario every 15 days, and those who wish to receive this support must call the aforementioned phone numbers from 9 am to 2 pm to set an appointment. He went on to say that there are 40 telephone lines dedicated to this program but, since there are so many Puerto Vallarta families facing difficult times due to the COVID-19 health contingency, you may have to call several times to get through.
In addition to the food program, Arturo Dávalos reported that starting today, families can fill their 5 gallon jugs with quality drinking water for free at one of Seapal Vallarta’s 26 Aguamáticos (water dispensing systems). The free water is limited to two garrafones per family per week and is available from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm at Seapal Aguamáticos in the following neighborhoods:
Mojoneras, Ramblases, Villa de Guadalupe, Magisterio, Coapinole, La Aurora, Infonavit, Ixtapa Centro y Tamarindos, Las Palmas, Cañadas, Ecoterra y Joyas del Pedregal. You’ll also find them in Colonia Del Toro, El Progreso, Independencia, Portales, Floresta, El Ranchito, Oficinas centrales de Seapal, Lomas del Coapinole, Guadalupe Victoria, Las Juntas, Volcanes, Centro del Pitillal and Villa Las Flores.
Finally, Mayor Dávalos expressed his thanks to all of those who are part of this project, especially the local business owners who have already joined the effort and that he trusts will continue “to lend a helping hand to those who need us most in these trying times.”
Source: Puerto Vallarta Municipal Government news bulletins translated and edited by María Francesca for BanderasNews.com.