Details on announcements made by Peru's President in recent Address to the Nation

18:19 | Lima, Jul. 28.

A second grant of S/760 (around US$223) for 8.5 million vulnerable families and a S/200 (around US$56) monthly aid for children whose parents die from COVID-19 are two of the announcements made by President Martin Vizcarra in his Address to the Nation on the occasion of Peru's 199th Independence Anniversary.

Below is a detailed list of some of the announcements made by the Head of State in his speech from the Parliament headquarters.

New grant for vulnerable families

• President Vizcarra disclosed that vulnerable families across the country will each receive a new grant of S/760 (around US$223), which will be paid between August and October this year.

• According to the statesman, the different grants given by the Government during the state of emergency have benefited 6 million families, plus 2.5 million households that were added to the registry on the final leg, which are expected to receive the financial support starting next week, thus bringing the total to 8.5 million families.

Aid for children orphaned by COVID-19

• The Peruvian leader remarked that boys and girls have been orphaned due to the coronavirus pandemic, so he announced the approval of a S/200 (around US$56) monthly aid for these children until they reach legal age (18 years old).

Historic investment in health

• The top official said that —in next year's draft budget to be submitted to Congress— the Government will allocate the largest investment in health of S/20 billion (around US$5.6 billion) in history, so that all Peruvians have access to high quality services.

SIS coverage

• He also announced that —in July 2021— all Peruvians will have Comprehensive Health Insurance (SIS) coverage, as a result of the regulations and budgets approved by his administration in order to achieve the universal health coverage.

Peru Pact

• Mr. Vizcarra proposed that all political forces sign the Peru Pact, on five points, which would lay the foundations for the country's development with regard to the Independence Bicentennial of the Republic, and thus overcome the crisis caused by the pandemic.

Works and reactivation

• The works to be carried out under the government-to-government program, which facilitate its execution, will involve the construction and improvement of the Carretera Central Highway worth S/3.8 billion (about US$1 billion), as well as the Lima Metro Lines 3 and 4 worth S/33 billion (about US$9.3 billion).

COVID-19 vaccine

• On the other hand, the President of the Republic affirmed that bringing the vaccine against COVID-19 to Peru —once it is discovered— is a national goal, adding that external efforts are being undertaken to achieve it.

"Therefore, we created the multisectoral commission for coordination and articulation of actions to access the development, production, acquisition, donation, and distribution of vaccines against COVID-19," he expressed.

Transparent figures

• Finally, he reiterated his condolences to the relatives of the victims hit by the coronavirus pandemic and announced that the official tally will include all those who died of the disease.