School cafeterias in Puerto Rico could begin to face food supply problems starting Wednesday after several suppliers halted deliveries over payments the Department of Education owes them, according to complaints made to Telemundo's program Rayos X. The companies had warned the Department since last week that, if the payments were not addressed and a meeting held to seek a solution, they would begin stopping their distribution routes. Some suppliers said they already stopped delivering food this week.
One supplier interviewed said one of her companies has gone roughly a year to a year and a half without being paid. Another said her payments had been current but stalled after the implementation of the ERP financial system. The suppliers say they have made multiple administrative efforts, submitted the required documentation, and kept providing service while waiting for the money owed, but that they no longer have the financial capacity to keep financing deliveries.
The Department of Education acknowledged it still faces difficulties tied to the ERP implementation, telling the program it still faces "challenges related to the adjustments and processes necessary in the ERP financial system" that remain to be finalized. The agency added that it communicated with some suppliers on Tuesday and that a meeting is scheduled for today to address the situation.
While a solution is sought, the halting of some routes could begin to affect food availability in school cafeterias.