VietNamNet Bridge – The southern province of Binh Duong spent VND51 billion (US$2.48 million) on a programme to support a job change-over for drivers of slow-moving three or four-wheel vehicles. However, to date, most of the rattling vehicles still seem to be on the road, despite the handover of large amounts of cash and loans for drivers to replace their vehicles with those permitted on provincial roads.

The old vehicles were suspended from travelling in the province because they created traffic jams and were considered to create unsafe conditions for other traffic.

The support programme ended on March 31, but according to provincial statistics, as many as 10,080 of the vehicles are still in service.

Ben Cat District has the most vehicles, 2,382, and driver/owners received more than VND12 billion ($585,000) in cash to change-over to more modern vehicles.

Dau Tieng District with 2,028 received VND10 billion ($488,000) and Di An District received VND4 billion ($195,000).

Under the supporting programme, each household taking a vehicle off the road was to receive a cash grant of VND5 million ($240). And if the household wanted to buy a new vehicle permitted on provincial roads, it could borrow money at specially low interest rates.

A total of VND17 billion ($829,000) was sought, and given in loans, under scheme to 643 households.

However, the number of the vehicles travelling in the province did not decrease.

Deputy director of the provincial Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Ninh Quoc Binh said, "We did not have any regulation that the vehicles be taken off the road after drivers received the support."

Meanwhile, director of the provincial Department of Finance, Pham Van Hao, said the support programme was carried out via computers and that local management offices set up lists of beneficiaries without careful checks.

Thus, while many drivers received support, their vehicles still rattle around on the roads.

Some drivers even sold their vehicles to another commune or district after receiving the money.

It is reported that many of the new owners themselves sought the low- cost support loans to buy new vehicles - before selling the vehicle to a third party hoping to repeat the pattern.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News