The Senate approved a request for information directed to the Ministry of Social Development (MDS) to obtain details about the companies contracted for the Hambre Cero program in the Central Department. The initiative was proposed by Senator Colym Soroka, who argued for the need to strengthen transparency in the execution of the school meals program.
The request asks that the MDS, led by Minister Tadeo Rojas, send the complete list of the companies awarded contracts to supply food to the 19 districts of Central included in the program. Furthermore, the Senate is asking to know which family farmers supply these contracted companies, with the goal of verifying the participation of the national productive sector in the supply chain.
While presenting the request, Soroka argued that it is necessary to have precise information about the companies benefiting from public contracts related to Hambre Cero to guarantee access to data and strengthen control mechanisms over the execution of funds. The case is of special relevance because the Central Department does not administer the resources of the National School Food Fund (Fonae), a responsibility which, according to current legislation, was assigned to the MDS, as is also the case with the Presidente Hayes Department.