By CB en Español on June 27, 2019.
By Yanira Hernández and Efrén Rodríguez
Governor Ricardo Rosselló Nevares asked the food industry to support the government's efforts to get the federal Congress to approve Puerto Rico's inclusion in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
In addition, he asked for support for the sector to help map employment needs around the island to work on a strategy to move the population from dependency to work.
The chief executive's remarks were made during the convention of the Chamber of Food Marketing, Industry and Distribution (MIDA) at the Pedro Rosselló Puerto Rico Convention Center.
Rosselló Nevares recalled that after the temporary increase in funding for the Nutritional Assistance Program (PAN) that occurred last year in the wake of Hurricanes Irma and María, this temporarily helped the food industry economically.
However, while those temporary surge funds ended in January, several weeks ago U.S. President Donald Trump signed into law a congressional bill appropriating an additional $600 million for PAN beneficiaries, aid that is expected to arrive in August.
"I invite you today and I see the environment for us to begin this transition from PAN to SNAP. In estimates it is going to be an annual billionaire investment to Puerto Rico to our economy, our consumers and it will put us on an equal platform," Rosselló Nevares said.
Likewise, the chief executive highlighted that "we have the opportunity, not only the $600 million that is coming for the PAN, but there is also $5 million to carry out the study that is a prerequisite to be able to make this transition to SNAP. I invite you to be part of it and help us in this process".
"I invite you to continue and that we do not let our guard down in knocking on those doors so that all members of Congress understand that we are not asking for something excessive and that we are not asking for something special. What we are asking for is equal treatment for Puerto Rico consumers and U.S. citizens living in Puerto Rico," he added.
Meanwhile, during the MIDA convention, the results of the Consumer Radiography 2019 study were presented, which among other data reveals that the majority of those surveyed agree that PAN beneficiaries should work or study in exchange for the benefit.
According to the study, 77 percent of those surveyed agree with the proposal that was presented by Governor Ricardo Rosselló Nevares and accepted by the Fiscal Control Board (JCF).
On the temporary increase in PAN funds that occurred last year in the wake of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, once the increase culminated in March, it reduced average monthly spending from $445 in 2018 to $422 in 2019, according to the study.
"This reduction is directly related to the availability of PAN funds, as its participants claimed an 11 percent decrease in their monthly expenses to $396. Non-NAP users saw their spending virtually unchanged with an average monthly expenditure of $474," said Freddie Hernandez, chairman of the Consumer Radiography committee.
The Consumer Radiography study conducted 1,350 interviews during the month of March and April 2019. The report also revealed that in Puerto Rico, 49 percent of supermarket customers receive PAN. Meanwhile, supermarkets registered a 25 percent increase (or 5.9 visits per month), compared to last year, according to the study. After supermarkets, the most visited establishments are gas stations, pharmacies, bakeries and membership stores. Except for supermarkets, all experienced a decline in monthly visits.
However, despite the increase in supermarket visits, what the study reflects is a drop in total monthly spending of about 10 percent (from $225 in 2018 to $204 in 2019).