The distribution of food bags to Panamanians who normally earn their living in the informal sector and during the health crisis cannot go to work began on Saturday, March 28.

“ The team with the f First installment traveled to Nuevo Chagres, on the Costa Abajo de Colón to start delivering complete bags of food. Believe me, we are working 247/7 to bring solutions to those affected by Covid-19, ”said President Laurentino Nito Cortizo at 11:40 pm on Friday.

Food bags are part of the government's “Panama Solidarity” plan, to help low-income people in the midst of the health crisis. The initiative has three components: vouchers and bags of food, medicine, and cooking gas. The benefit, according to Cortizo, will reach one million people and will be distributed house to house during the next days. The barcode of the ID will serve as a debit card.

The food bags contain 5-pounds of bagged rice, beans, flour, sugar, pasta. milk tuna,  and ham slices, among others.

The Ministry of Agricultural Development said that to ensure transparency in the process of supply and distribution of food bags, they work directly with the Comptroller General.