The Provincial Food Company in Bayamo has initiated the distribution of food packages aimed at supporting individuals facing vulnerability. These packages include limited allocations of rice, peas, and sugar, intended to sustain recipients for a span of two months, as reported by Radio Bayamo on Thursday.
According to Xiomara Lorenzo Ramírez, director of UEB 660 Parallel Market, each eligible person will receive 10 pounds of rice, two pounds of peas, and two pounds of sugar. These distributions began on Wednesday in the San Juan El Cristo area, known as La Doce, and extended this Friday to the El Horno neighborhood, which also supports beneficiaries from El Almirante.
Commerce units are utilizing lists compiled by the Office of Control for the Distribution of Supplies (Oficoda) to prepare, sell, and directly deliver the products to the recipients.
Local authorities have declared that this initiative will gradually expand to the municipalities and popular councils of Granma. This distribution is part of a targeted social protection model approved by the National Assembly in June, which is one of 176 economic and social transformations replacing universal subsidies with assistance aimed at individuals deemed vulnerable.
Earlier in October, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz stated that over 883,000 individuals would receive monthly allocations of five pounds of rice, one pound of sugar, and one pound of beans until January 2027. He emphasized that selecting the beneficiaries involved a detailed community-level, door-to-door effort.
The Bayamo food package offers double these quantities because it covers two months, not due to an increase in the monthly ration. This distinction is crucial in a nation where access to food increasingly relies on limited state aid and household ability to purchase items at market prices.
Nationally, the government has designated 1,913 stores to distribute these modules, representing roughly 16% of a network exceeding 12,000 establishments. Thus, the concentration is on a portion of the state commercial infrastructure and officially registered individuals.
Figures released by the authorities indicate a consistent increase in the population classified as vulnerable. The number has surged from 310,000 individuals in July 2025 to over 883,000 officially recognized today.
In Santiago de Cuba, authorities acknowledged that approximately 101,359 individuals, accounting for more than 10% of the provincial population, are in this situation. In Holguín, the proportion similarly affects one in every ten residents.
The system has faced criticism regarding the criteria for beneficiary selection. In Santiago de Cuba, cases have been reported where individuals were excluded from lists due to having relatives residing abroad—a condition not mentioned in any regulation published in the Official Gazette.
Economist Pedro Monreal has warned that expanding coverage to all officially recognized vulnerable individuals would require multiplying the current social protection expenditure by 4.5 times, reaching about 24,300 million pesos, a sum the government cannot afford.
Meanwhile, the Cuban Observatory for Human Rights estimated, based on over 1,300 interviews across 79 municipalities, that 94% of the Cuban population lives in extreme poverty.
This statistic starkly contrasts with the limited reach of the food modules and the reported minimum salary and pension of 3,210 and 4,000 pesos monthly, respectively, which equate to less than five dollars at informal exchange rates.
Understanding Bayamo's Food Distribution and Its Impact
What does the food package from Bayamo include?
The food package distributed by Bayamo includes 10 pounds of rice, two pounds of peas, and two pounds of sugar, intended to last for two months.
Why is the Bayamo food package significant?
The significance lies in its provision for two months, though it does not increase the monthly ration. This is crucial in Cuba where food access heavily depends on limited state assistance.
How does the government decide the beneficiaries of the food aid?
Beneficiaries are selected through detailed community-level efforts, which involve door-to-door assessments to ensure aid reaches those classified as vulnerable.
What challenges does the food distribution system face?
The system faces criticism over the selection criteria for beneficiaries, with reports of exclusions based on having relatives abroad, and the government's inability to finance an expansion of the program.