The Congress of the Republic approved a reform to Decree Number 51-2022, Temporary Law of Comprehensive Development, with the purpose of modifying the conditions related to disbursements, the participation of beneficiaries and compliance with environmental co responsibility within the program.
Disbursement and timing
The reform establishes that the Comprehensive Development Program provides an allocation of Q36,000 per beneficiary, distributed in 36 monthly payments of Q1,000, over a three-year period, according to the criteria established in the corresponding regulations. One of the most significant changes is that the program's term may be extended for an additional three years for beneficiaries who have had any absences from their participation. These beneficiaries may be invited back to participate in one or more of the program's projects, provided that their absence does not exceed six months and that the total number of monthly payments is not exceeded by more than 36.
Likewise, the Ministry of Social Development (MIDES) must continue with the outstanding disbursements until the corresponding financial allocations for each beneficiary are completed, depending on their participation. The financial contribution will be exempt from taxes and contributions and, in the event of the beneficiary's death, may only be transferred to the spouse who was registered in the program. Disbursements will be made by MIDES through the national banking system.
Transitional Provision
This article establishes that beneficiaries who were already enrolled in the program and who, before the reform, had not completed the 36 monthly payments, may continue within the Comprehensive Development Program in accordance with the new provisions established in the previous article.
Special training on environmental co-responsibility
The reform includes, as a one-time measure, an extraordinary environmental training session for beneficiaries of the Temporary Comprehensive Development Program. This measure is specifically aimed at beneficiaries registered for the years 2023 and 2024 who have outstanding payments due to a lack of accreditation of environmental co-responsibility.
The training will be provided by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MARN). This ministry will be responsible for establishing the mechanisms for its organization, delivery, evaluation, compliance, and registration. Successful completion of this training will allow beneficiaries to fulfill the environmental co-responsibility requirement, enabling the program to continue and any outstanding payments to be made. Once the objective of this provision has been met, the measure will be discontinued.
Validity
Finally, it is established that the decree will enter into force the day after its publication in the Official Gazette. The reform primarily seeks to guarantee the continuity of beneficiaries within the Comprehensive Development Program, allow for the recovery of participation in cases of absence, ensure the payment of outstanding allocations, and provide an extraordinary opportunity for certain beneficiaries from 2023 and 2024 to demonstrate their environmental co-responsibility.
The decree was issued on July 29, 2026, and states that it will come into effect the day after its publication in the Official Gazette.
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