Federal Agriculture Approves Puerto Rico Government Pandemic Food Assistance Plan

Washington DC – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved the Puerto Rican government’s plan to implement the program, which could allow $ 390.7 million to be distributed to increase food assistance to students affected by school breaks and changes during the coronavirus pandemic.

Washington-based Commissioner Jenniffer González said today that the program, known by its acronym in English P-EBT and will be administered by the Department of the Family in Puerto Rico, is designed to increase the food security of students affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. .

Through the P-EBT, “a monthly monetary benefit equivalent to the closing days or hours that have taken place for at least 5 consecutive days” can be delivered, according to Commissioner González’s office.

The program can benefit almost 327,000 students this school year 2020-2021.

González advocated in Congress for the inclusion of the Island in that program, which was initially approved as a complement to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which operates in certain states and territories. In Puerto Rico, the federal nutrition plan is the Nutrition Assistance Program (NAP).

“The Pandemic-EBT program has proven to be crucial in ensuring that students have more food alternatives during the pandemic,” González said.