SBIC urged to build ironclad fishing vessels in response to fishermen’s needs

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung asked the Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (SBIC) to work with relevant agencies and fishermen to build fishing vessels with iron hulls in order to enhance the development of the fishing industry.

PM Dung made the request at a meeting with the corporation’s leaders in the northern coastal province of Quang Ninh on June 4.

He stressed the necessity of providing fishermen with bigger, safer and more modern vessels while ensuring effectiveness and sustainability.

PM Dung also praised the quality of fisheries surveillance ships built by the corporation and required it to continue building and handing over other ships on schedule. He also requested that the SBIC work with the fisheries surveillance force to improve ship designs to meet new requirements and fulfill any assigned tasks of ship maintenance, reparation and construction to serve the fisheries surveillance and maritime police forces.

The Government leader urged the SBIC to push restructuring—especially in finance, production and job creation, as well as in affiliated enterprises, while enhancing business management capacity and ensuring production and trade efficiency.

PM Dung reiterated that Vietnam is a coastal nation with a large maritime area of over one million square kilometers, which is the nation’s living and developing space. Maritime economics has brought the interests to people and served effectively for national construction and development.

The Party and State have set a sound policy on growing the shipbuilding industry in a strategy on developing maritime economics to meet requirements of fishing, transportation, maritime security and national defence, PM Dung added.

PM Dung also visited KN781 fisheries surveillance ship, one of Vietnam’s largest coast guard ships.

Some contagious diseases likely to enter Vietnam

A number of life-threatening highly communicable diseases, including the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), are likely to infiltrate into Vietnam, a leading health official warned.

At a June 4 workshop on epidemic prevention in Haiphong City, Director of the Preventive Medicine Department (PMD) Tran Dac Phu reported that measles is essentially under control as the number of fatalities and new infections continues to decline.

However, he said there remains a considerable threat of epidemics breaking out for a number of highly contagious diseases.

The heat and humidity of the summer months create ideal conditions for many communicable diseases to gestate, such as hand-foot-mouth disease (HFM) and dengue fever. In addition, factors such as the increased travel in and out of country and bad environmental sanitation increase the likelihood of epidemics.

Health Ministry statistics show since early this year, the country has recorded 9,746 cases of dengue fever in 42 provinces and cities, including 7 fatalities in Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Ca Mau, Binh Phuoc and Phu Yen.

Around 24,730 cases of HFM disease have been detected in 62 provinces and cities, including two deaths in Long An and Ba Ria-Vung Tau provinces. Currently, the disease has primarily occurred in southern provinces, accounting for 78.5% of total infected cases nationwide.

Meanwhile, 5,031 people have been infected with measles in 63 provinces and cities. The disease seems to have declined over recent weeks.

The PMD stated that Vietnam has not recorded any case of MERS-CoV, or avian flu types A/H7N9 and A/H5N6. However, two people died of the deadly avian flu strain A/H5N1 in Binh Phuoc and Dong Thap provinces.

It warned that vaccination is the most effective way to prevent the disease. In summer, the healthcare sector continues to promptly monitor, detect and deal with outbreaks, as well as disseminating preventive measures to the public.

The workshop updated participants on the latest information about preventive measures against dengue fever, measles, HFM, flu, varicella, rabies and MERS-CoV.  

Part of motorbike fee revenues to go to rural roads

The Government has issued a new decree allowing communal authorities to use part of road maintenance fee revenues from motorcycle owners to build rural roads from August.

Decree 56/2014/ND-CP, which was issued last month with effect on August 20, says part of revenues from the fee will go to the budgets of communes for upgrading and constructing roads in rural areas.

The People’s Council of a locality will decide part or all the local allocation for communes to invest in rural roads. However, the decree clarifies the budget allocation ratio must be balanced between the needs for new roads in line with the national new rural development program and road maintenance depending on their spending and revenues to ensure the efficient use of the fee allocations.

At a seminar late last year, transport enterprises in HCMC voiced strong objections to allocating part of the road maintenance fund to communes to develop rural roads as part of the new rural development program. This seminar was held to gather comments on the draft amendments to a revised decree on fee collections for road maintenance.

Representatives of the firms cited Article 7 of Decree 18/2012/ND-CP as saying that the national road maintenance fund is used for maintenance and management of national highways while the fee allocation for localities is for maintenance and management of local roads.

They argued that it was the State budget which should cover investments in rural roads of the national new rural development program.

Despite suggestions and outcries of enterprises, Decree 56/2014/ND-CP still regulates that the owners of trailers and semi-trailers should pay road maintenance fees.

The owners of cars and trucks have had to pay road maintenance fees since January 1, 2013 while many provinces and cities have yet to collect the fee on motorcycles as they have not passed specific fee levels.

More vessels to be built for Fisheries Surveillance Force

The Prime Minister has decided to invest US$200 million in building four more large-scale vessels for the Fisheries Surveillance Force to allow them to better carry out their law enforcement missions in the country’s waters and supporting Vietnamese fishermen.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung made the investment decision at a June 4 working session with key officials of ministries, agencies and the Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (SBIC), following an inspection of a new large-sized ship built by Ha Long Shipyard for the force.

The ship, named KN-781, has a displacement of more than 2,000 tonnes, and is one of the largest patrol ships in the country. It will be handed over to the Fisheries Surveillance Force this month.

The Ha Long Shipyard is also putting final touch on another similar vessel for the force, which will be transferred in July.

The PM also agreed to the building of an additional 15 medium-scale ships, bringing the expected number of fisheries surveillance vessels to more than 50 in total, thus allowing the force to better perform its law enforcement and and rescue missions at sea.

HCM City to bury over 1,000km of wires underground

The Ho Chi Minh City Power Corporation plans to bury more than 1,000km of electric lines and cables underground in 2014 and 2015, heard a conference reviewing the work in the southern hub on June 4.

From now to 2015, the firm will complete 36 ongoing projects installing 329km of power lines underground.

It plans to start 42 projects burying 394km of wires in 2014 while another 38 projects will begin in 2015 for 342km of power lines.

By the end of 2015, the city is expected to finish the rearrangement of 445km of middle voltage and 691km of low voltage lines along with 11.7km of 110kV cables.

The corporation attributed the great volume of work for 2014-2015 to the slow progress made from 2011 to 2013.

Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Le Manh Ha said that burying electricity wires and telecommunication cables underground has given a facelift to the city.

However, to ensure the work’s further progress, the corporation and managerial agencies, such as the municipal departments of transport, information and communications and industry and trade, need to devise measures to tackle existing problems, he added.

Presently, the city has buried 28 percent of middle voltage and 10.6 percent of low voltage lines. The respective figures are expected to reach 30 percent and 20 percent in 2015.

Ho Chi Minh City braces for MERS-CoV, H7N9

Medical stations in Ho Chi Minh City have been urged to increase inspections to promptly detect any patients who are suspected of having Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) or avian influenza H7N9, and swiftly contain them.

Director of the municipal Preventive Medicine Department Nguyen Tri Dung made the call at a meeting in the city on June 4.

The function heard that no cases of such diseases have been reported so far in Vietnam. However, there are high risks that these viruses may enter Vietnam as the country is expanding trade and tourism ties with foreign countries, including those where these diseases are developing unpredictably.

Passengers on flights from A/H1N1-hit countries, such as Cambodia, Egypt, Indonesia and Bangladesh, and those from China, which has recorded cases of both A/H1N1 and H7N9 viruses, and the Mers-CoV-hit Middle East nations must have their body temperature measured before entering Vietnam.

The city has seen a reduction in cases of prevalent diseases such as measles, chickenpox, foot-hand-mouth and dengue since May. However, preventive measures must be continuously taken to keep the diseases under control.

It will increase vaccinations for children aged 3-10 years old until July, while launching the Environmental Sanitation Month to mark the ASEAN Dengue Day (June 15).

Lai Chau struggles to clear opium poppy plantations

Opium poppy fields are still growing in the northern mountainous province of Lai Chau, despite efforts to eradicate them by local authorities.

The situation is particularly bad in Ta Tong Commune, Muong Te District, which is mainly inhabited by the Ha Nhi ethnic group.

Chairman of the commune's People's Committee Sung A Chu said that the area of poppy plantations had fallen, but locals continued to cultivate them.

Local authorities held campaigns to eradicate opium poppy fields twice a year, but local people still found ways to grow them illegally, he said.

In March this year, local authorities destroyed 55,000sq.m of poppy fields in the commune.

However, it was difficult to completely deal eradicate the problem, he said.

"Opium poppies are often planted in remote areas. There are fields that take two days to reach through the forests, and it was difficult to establish who was growing them" he said.

A lack of regulations to punish opium poppy growers was another challenge, he added.

The expansion of poppy fields has led to a high rate of drug addiction in the commune.

"Local authorities held detox programmes for drug addicts but they often relapse when they return home," Chu said.

In order to completely eradicate opium poppy fields in the commune, local authorities plan to help local residents to improve production by introducing high-yield rice varieties and rubber plantations which can thrive in the commune's climate.

US, Sweden support disadvantaged children in Thua Thien Hue

The central province of Thua Thien Hue has received funding of nearly VND558 million from the US charity Aid To Children Without Parents (ACWP), to implement a project to support local orphans and disadvantaged children.

The project aims to improve local residents’ living conditions and raise orphans’ and poor children’s capabilities to earn their own living, contributing to the development of education and healthcare activities.

The project will be carried out in a year, in the districts of Quang Dien, Phu Vang and Huong Tra commune in Thua Thien Hue.

Meanwhile, the provincial People’s Committee received more than VND2.9 billion in a non-refundable aid from a Sweden’s Adoptions Centrum (AC).  

The money will be used to set up a project to increase vulnerable women and children’s involvement in family affairs and social activities.

Binh Duong helps disturbance-affected enterprises

The Department of Customs in the southern province of Binh Duong is making every effort to help import-export enterprises affected by recent disturbances normalise their production and business swiftly.

According to Nguyen Phuoc Viet Dung, director of the department, as many as 356 out of 369 businesses operating in Binh Duong have so far resumed their activities, maintaining contributions to the local budget.

He added that his agency helped 34 enterprises recover their lost data software and customs papers.

Branches of the department were also directed to work overtime to be able to quickly assist businesses.

The disturbances in some localities, including central Ha Tinh and southern Binh Duong and Dong Nai provinces, erupted during workers’ rallies against China’s illegal placement of its oil rig HaiyangShiyou – 981 in Vietnam’s continental shelf and exclusive economic zone from early May.

Some extremists incited others to destroy the property of foreign firms, as well as some national businesses and individuals, and acted against law enforcement officials, disrupting social order and business activities.

Authorities have arrested and brought to trial hundreds of rioters.

Hanoi leader asks citizens to show patriotism by simple good things

People in the capital city of Hanoi should show their love towards the country through simple good deeds, such as joining production movements and abiding by the laws of the land.

The statement was made by Hanoi Party Committee Secretary Pham Quang Nghi during a working trip to industrial zones in the city on June 4.

Speaking at the Thach That - Quoc Oai Industrial Zone, Nghi mentioned recent regrettable disturbances which occurred in some localities during public opposition to China’s illegal placement of the oil rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone. These incidents caused damage to businesses’ assets.

While stressing that it is a legitimate right of Vietnamese people to oppose China’s wrong doings and struggle for protecting their national sovereignty and territorial integrity, he said that they should not follow the words of instigators to create social disorder that damages the image of the country.

Talking to foreign business owners and workers, he shared that Vietnam is taking a series of measures to maintain peace and stability. As neighbours, Vietnam and China should sincerely foster their friendship.

Hanoi is also trying its best to build its image and investment environment to attract more foreign investors while implementing policies to ensure fair interests for all foreign businesses, he said.

According to Nguyen Xuan Chinh, head of the city’s management board of industrial zones (IZs) and export processing zones (EPZ), Hanoi ’s eight industrial zones is now home to 550 projects worth 5.3 billion USD. They include 300 foreign invested projects, with a total registered investment of 4.7 billion USD.

Businesses operating in Hanoi’s IZs and EPZs are expected to post a combined revenue of 5.5 billion USD, up 11 percent against last year and accounting for 20 percent of the city’s GDP.

Art performance marks World Environment Day

An art performance to raise public awareness of environment protection and climate change adaptation was recently held in Ho Chi Minh City in response to World Environment Day (June 5).

Speaking at the June 4 event, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Bui Cach Tuyen highlighted climate change and rising sea level as unpredictable ecological challenges which require global efforts to minimise their impact.

The performance aims to call on local people to protect the environment even with small deeds in their daily life such as putting the garbage into the right place, using power and water economically, and increase forest coverage, said Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Le Thanh Liem.

On this occasion, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Vietnam Cinema Association, and the Vietnam Television held a ceremony to honour winners of the fifth Environment Film Festival, which received 119 entries.

Ho Chi Minh City is forecast to be one of the cities globally most vulnerable to the impact of climate change.

The United Nations General Assembly declared 2014 as the International Year of Small Island Developing States (SIDS), following the theme “Take actions to prevent rising sea level”.

It aims to underline the significance of protecting the environment and responding to climate change, especially in prone islands and coastal areas.

Dak Nong enjoys sound partnership with Cambodian province

The Central Highlands province of Dak Nong and the Cambodian province of Mondulkiri have enjoyed a growing relationship since they signed a comprehensive partnership agreement in 2010.

According to Le Duc Cuong from the Dak Nong Department of External Relations, the agreement, aiming to boost socio-economic agreement between the two localities in the 2010-2015 period, has seen a number of fruitful outcomes.

Thanks to the close coordination between local governments of both sides, the localities have finished border demarcation work as scheduled, with eight landmarks planted, he said.

Dak Nong has also handed over a 24 billion VND (1.128 million USD) vocational school as well as a public security headquarters building to Mondulkiri, said Cuong.

Meanwhile, trade exchange activities between the two provinces have been on the rise, mostly with consumer goods, construction materials, fertilizer and agricultural products, he noted.

At the same time, the two sides have also seen strong partnership in security and defence, particularly in preventing and combating violations of border regulations, drug trafficking and cross-border crimes, Cuong added.

Vietnam donates rice to drought victims in Angola

The Vietnamese Embassy in Angola recently handed over 23 tonnes of rice to the southern province of Namibe which was severely affected by the prolonged drought.

This was the result of a fund-raising campaign launched by the Embassy and the Vietnamese community in Angola in late 2013 to support Angolan victims of the drought, as well as flood victims in central Vietnam and Truong Sa (Spratly) islanders.

At the hand-over ceremony, deputy governor of Namibe province Alcides Cabral thanked Vietnamese people in Angola for helping Angolan people overcome the aftermath of the drought.

He said he believes the aid will contribute to promoting friendship between the two countries.

The rice volume, estimated at US$35,000, will be delivered to victims in drought-stricken areas soon.

In December 2013 the Vietnamese expatriates in Angola raised US$6,000 for flood victims in central Vietnam and Truong Sa islanders.

OVs in Poland raise funds for Vietnam Coast Guard force

Overseas Vietnamese (OVs) in Poland on June 3 donated VND300 million to the Vietnam Coast Guard and Fisheries Resource Surveillance Forces who are protecting national sovereignty in the East Sea.

Another VND30 million was given to owners of the fishing boat DNa 90152 in Danang whose boat was sunk by a Chinese vessel in late May to help ease their suffering.

Vice Political Commissar of the Vietnam Coast Guard Maj. Gen. Hoang Van Dong expressed sincere thanks to the OV community in Poland for their support.

He confirmed that despite difficulties and dangers at sea, Vietnam Coast Guard and Fisheries Resource Surveillance Forces would stand firm to defend national sovereignty.

Over the past weeks, Chinese vessels which were deployed to protect its drilling rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 in the East Sea  have intimidated and rammed law enforcement boats of Vietnam Coast Guard and Fisheries Resource Surveillance forces, causing property losses.  

Climate change takes its toll on Tien Giang dykes

As many as 150 landslide-prone areas threaten a stretch of the dyke system in four districts of the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta's Tien Giang Province.

Nearly 40 of the locations covering a length of 2.6km are said to be in serious danger.

Nguyen Thien Phap, head of the province's Irrigation, Storm and Flood Prevention and Control Department, said it would cost about VND16 billion (US$752,000) to repair and reinforce the trouble spots.

The extra rain and tidal heights caused by climate change together with rapid socio-economic development are partly to blame for the situation, he added.

Phap said the dyke in question was built too close to the river bank, which meant it was being quickly eroded in the flood season.

He said householders who lived near danger areas had been removed to safe places, adding that despite efforts, the situation was not fully under control.

According to Phap, the province has spent nearly VND86 billion ($4 million) in an attempt to remove 248 landslide-prone spots since 2005.

Patients give positive feedback on new hospital fee

Ho Chi Minh City hospitals run normally on the first day of application of new hospital fee, reported by SGGP.

Patients expressed satisfaction if hospital fee hike along with better services. Most of health insurance card holders did not worry about the new hospital fee because in reality the health insurance agencies cover most payment for their treatment and they are required to make copayment but not much for healthcare services.

Around 63,000 health insurance card holders registered in the District General Hospital in District 2, said Dr. Tran Van Khanh, director of the hospital.

The new hospital fee rate does not affect them much, even some technique service increase slightly, he added.

Meanwhile doctors of the Tumor Hospital in District Binh Thanh where nearly 90 percent of patients are insurance card holders felt burden on patients from hike hospital fee.

Hospital Director Le Hoang Minh said that most of patients who suffer incurable diseases have to undergo complicated technique services, hence they have to pay a bit high differential margin.

So doctors try to apply best available techniques in treatment, Mr. Minh said.

Ho Chi Minh City is the final city to apply new hospital fee as per the ministries of Health and Finance instructed in 2012.

The new fee schedule will take effect in the 378 public hospitals and clinics in the city, with those for examination and checks, the daily cost of a sickbed, tests, and many other services rising to 75 percent of the rates that will come into effect in 2016.

Next year they will go up to 85 percent and 75 percent respectively, and a year later to 100 percent.

People join hands for national sea and islands

A wide range of activities have been held across the countries in recent days in response to movements towards national sea and islands and in support of fishermen, islanders and forces working and living on Vietnamese waters.

The Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV) on June 3 announced a credit programme worth VND150 billion (US$7.05 million) for local enterprises and fishermen in Binh Dinh province.

Under the programme, BIDV will provide loans with preferential interest rates for companies and fishermen to build 27 new fishing vessels, who will also engage in building a national flag tower on Cu Lao Xanh Island in Binh Dinh province.

BIDV also presented VND1.2 billion (US$56,400) for the Fund for Binh Dinh Fishermen, VND400 million (US$18,800) for fishing villages in Binh Dinh and VND100 million (US$4,700) to the family of Huynh Thi Nhu Hoa, owner of the fishing boat ĐNa 90152 sunk by Chinese vessels on May 26.

Earlier, the bank offered a credit package of VND3 trillion (US$141 million) to fishermen and enterprises to build, upgrade or repair their offshore fishing vessels.

On the same day, the Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (Vietcombank) also announced a credit programme for more than 3,000 members of Quang Ngai provincial fishery syndicate in the 2014-2018 period, to assist their careers.

Between June 1-3, the Hanoi Medicine University, in co-ordination with the General Police Department for Crime Prevention and Suppression and the Vietnam National Academy of Music, organised a programme named 'Joint efforts with fishermen' on Ly Son Island district in Quang Ngai province.

A delegation of doctors from the Medicine University provided health check and free medicine for nearly 900 local people. They also presented 250 first aid kits, 500 life-jackets and 1,000 national flags for fishing boats from Ly Son and Da Nang.

The Club of Saigon Businessmen in Ho Chi Minh City on June 3 presented gifts worth VND8 million each to 40 ship owners in Da Nang city who catch fish in the traditional area of Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos.

The Huong Sen Health Care Centre under the National Hospital of Acupuncture called on its staff to send mobile texts to respond to the 'Joint efforts for national sea and islands' programme launched by the Ministry of Information and Communications and the Vietnam Red Cross Society. Nearly 1,000 officials of the centre sent texts to support the programme and contributed VND96 million to the Vietnam Red Cross Society.

By June 2, the SMS campaign has received more than 853,000 messages worth over VND15.3 billion (US$719,000).

Yesterday at Thanh Long temple in Thai Binh city, the Executive Board of Thai Binh provincial Buddhist Sangha held a ceremony to pray for peace in the East Sea and protest against China’s illegal placement of its oil rig in Vietnamese waters, attracting the participation of hundreds of Buddhist monks, nuns and followers.

New children’s hospital planned for opening in 2016

Authorities of HCMC expect a new children’s hospital will be up and running in 2016 as part of a scheme to open five new hospitals in the next two years to cope with chronic overload at hospitals.

In a recent document on major health projects submitted to the Prime Minister, the HCMC government proposed awarding no-bid contracts for the consultancy packages of the new hospital project.

The city wants to pick a consortium consisting of Construction Corporation No. 1 (CC1) and South Korea’s Yooil Engineering & Architects Co., Ltd. and a local partner as the engineering, procurement and construction contractor of the hospital project. This EPC does not include medical equipment.

The city will organize a public tender to select a capable and experienced contractor for the package to supply and install high-quality medical equipment at the new hospital with 18 months.

In January this year, the Prime Minister approved a scheme to build five new modern hospitals and institutes in HCMC, including the children’s hospital and allowed the city to appoint contractors for urgent cases. These facilities of regional standards will help ease increasing overload at the operational hospitals here in the city.

Earlier this year, the HCMC government planned to start construction of the new children’s hospital in July this year on 12 hectares in Tan Kien Commune in Binh Chanh District. This new 1,000-bed children’s hospital is expected to share patients with the heavily overloaded Children’s Hospital No.1 and No.2.

In addition, HCMC has plans to begin work on a second facility of Oncology Hospital in District 9 next month.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh told a meeting with leaders of the HCMC government last year that the Government had approved some VND10 trillion for the two new hospital projects. This is part of the VND20 trillion endorsed by the Government for building key hospitals in the south.