Claudia Sheinbaum Delivers Welfare Programs & Discusses Infrastructure in Veracruz

Welfare Programs and Social Rights

• 💡 Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, President of Mexico, presided over an event in La Antigua, Veracruz, to distribute Women's Welfare Pension cards and pensions for senior citizens.
• 🎯 The Welfare Programs are presented as fundamental rights of the people of Mexico, not as favors, and are established in the Constitution.
• 💰 In 2026, one trillion pesos were allocated to these social programs nationwide, with 2.5 million beneficiaries in Veracruz receiving 70 million pesos.
• ✅ The Pensión Mujeres Bienestar program, specifically for women aged 60-64, recognizes their lifelong work in caring for families and communities, automatically transitioning to the senior citizen pension at 65.

Economic Model Transformation

• 📈 The current administration emphasizes a shift from a neoliberal model that privatized public companies and impoverished the population, to one focused on the welfare of the people.
• ⛽ Pemex's recovery is highlighted, with the company now producing nearly 80% of the gasoline consumed in Mexico, a significant increase from 30% during the neoliberal period.
• 🌱 Efforts are underway to increase fertilizer production for Mexican agriculture, with Pemex producing them again after the privatization and closure of Fertimex.
• 📊 The minimum wage has significantly increased from 3,000 pesos in 2018 to over 9,500 pesos, contributing to 13.5 million Mexicans escaping poverty.

Infrastructure Development in Veracruz

• 🛠️ The Secretary of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transport detailed five main infrastructure actions for Veracruz, including reconstruction due to rain damage, new bridges, highway modernization, and road maintenance.
• 🌉 Significant projects include the Coatzacoalcos III bridge on Federal Highway 180, the access bridge to the Port of Veracruz, and the rehabilitation of the Antio Dovalí bridge.
• 🛣️ Investments include 4.319 billion pesos for reconstruction, targeting 426 km of federal roads and 287 km of state roads, plus the construction and rehabilitation of 18 bridges.
• 🚧 The Cardel-Poza Rica corridor is undergoing improvements, including the Cardel to La Mancha section and a new alternative from La Mancha to Laguna Verde, aiming to reduce travel times by 45 minutes.

New Social Initiatives and Recognition

• 📚 New programs include more scholarships for public secondary school students (Beca Benito Juárez) and a new scholarship for primary students for school supplies and uniforms (Beca Rita Cetina).
• 🩺 The Salud Casa por Casa program involves 20,000 healthcare professionals visiting adults 65+ and people with disabilities to address common ailments like diabetes and hypertension, providing free medications.
• 👏 The President emphasized the importance of equality between men and women, rejecting machismo and all forms of discrimination, and recognizing women's contributions throughout Mexican history.
• 🇲🇽 The government's philosophy is to be **