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Social News 6/4
Ha Noi identifies 46 flood-prone localities
The Ha Noi construction department has identified 46
flood-prone areas in the city for the rainy season that is expected to arrive
in June.
General Director of the Ha Noi Water Drainage One Member
Company Ltd Nguyen Le said about 46 sites would be vulnerable to flooding if
there was more than 150mm of rain during four hours or more.
If the rainfall is between 50mm and 100mm, about 23 sites are
likely to be submerged, such as the Giai Phong, Hoang Mai, Nguyen Chinh and
Thanh Dam, besides Mai Dong and Dinh Cong intersections in the city.
Le said the ongoing sewerage projects in
The department will use some of the main lakes of Hao
Currently, 85 lakes are being used to reduce flooding in the
city.
Representatives from the US Consulate in
Countrywide Consular Coordinate at the consulate David
McCawley said at a press conference about visa renewal via post in
order to facilitate for the visa application procedure and bring safety to
those who ask for visa extension.
The program allows those visa applicants to extend U.S.
nonimmigrant visa post without reinterview if their visa is an E, H, L,
P, or R class visa and still valid or expired less than past 48 months, or
other kinds of nonimmigrant visa which is still valid or expired less than
last 12 months ago.
In the end of the visa adjudication process, Vietnam Post will
return applicants' documents and passport to applicants at the chosen
document delivery address in the profile within 6 or 8 days. More detailed
information is launched at
http://www.ustraveldocs.com/vn_vn/vn-niv-visarenew.asp
Mr. McCAwley said that as Vietnam and the US have been going
to become members of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreements and mark
the 20th anniversary of the normalization of Vietnam - US diplomatic
relationship the two sides would facilitate travelers including cost cut and
visa extension.
Many enterprises in the two countries support policies to lift
visa requirement for visitors or visa extension of American residents into
At an annual press conference in Hanoi on April 2, the
Ministry of Science and Technology announced new regulation of importing of
second-hand machine and equipment in the second quarter and pausing the
decree No. 20/2014/TT-KHCN which took effect on September 1, 2014.
Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Pham Cong Tac said
that the old decree was issued in order to stabilize production and assist
businesses in importing second-hand machines under the government’s control.
However, last time, there have been many disputes over the
matter; some importers said the decree has not created chances for them to
buy new machines into the country.
Accordingly, the Prime Minister ordered to halt the decree's
implementation and import activities of second-hand machines. In the first
quarter of this year, the Ministry will have to consider the decree.
It is scheduled that the Ministry will issue an amendment in
the second quarter to ensure the benefits for importers of second-hand
and brand-new machines.
Lobster price sharply falls at beginning of season
The price of commercial lobsters in the
According to Nguyen Ngoc Huy, a lobster farmer in
In previous years, farmers earned around VND300,000 for a
kilogram of lobsters. This year, with the price falling at the beginning of
the harvest season, most farmers merely broke even. Therefore, they have been
working half-heartedly and waiting for the price to go up again. However, due
to specific characteristics, the delay for the sale of lobsters will only
last for 20-30 days.
There are around 1,000 households who breed lobsters in
Many industry clusters not have wastewater treatment system in
HCMC
Only 12.5 percent of industry clusters under operation have
built and functioned wastewater treatment systems in
HCMC has planned 27 industry clusters. Of these, 16 have come
into operation but only Le Minh Xuan and Nhi Xuan clusters have invested
wastewater treatment systems. It is under investment at Xuan Thoi Son
cluster.
Wastewater systems from the remaining 13 clusters has not been
collected and treated because the city's plan on industry clusters have been
implemented asynchronously and behind socioeconomic development speed.
Investors of industry clusters' infrastructure have reported
with many difficulties in making detailed planning, site clearance and
construction. On the other hand, the rest area of industrial land is not much
discouraging investors in this field.
Industry clusters are being managed by many agencies instead
of a single body.
Therefore, the department believed that the city will not be
able to complete its target that 100 percent industry clusters can treat
wastewater meeting the country's environmental standards this year.
The first metro of
The metro's cabin and carriage simulator, which has been
delivered to
The board has so far received more than 350 people who came to
watch the mock-up and provide their opinions in feedback forms.
Accordingly, among the 285 opinions given for the shape of the
metro, 122 rate it as “good”, 115 evaluates it as “fairly good”, 30 consider
it “medium” and 9 regard it as “bad”.
Regarding the color of the metro, 147 people assess it as
“good” while only 8 says it is bad.
Out of the 271 opinions on the distance from the handrail in
the passenger carriage, 139 rate it as good and only 4 say it is not
appropriate.
Most of the opinions also are in favor of the color and the
shape of passenger seats, the board said.
Vu Anh Tuan, one of the viewers of the metro
sample, commented that the handrails in the passenger carriage
should be re-located so that the users will not stand too close to the
passengers who are sitting below them.
Do Thanh Tuan, also a sightseer, suggested that each
carriage be equipped with a clock, while Pham Thi Hai Binh,
another viewer, recommends that the cabin be in an aerodynamic shape.
Regarding Binh’s opinion, Bui Xuan Cuong, head of the Urban
Railway Management Board, said the metro on display is an urban metro
train, not an express train.
Therefore, in order to provide its driver with the best
vision, the metro should not be aerodynamic shaped, Cuong said.
However, the appearance of cabin will be adjusted to make it
more beautiful, he added.
He also said that his agency will invite scientists and
experts to give their comments and recommendations to the mock-up from now to
April 15.
The board will then classify, analyze and evaluate all these
opinions from both the public and specialists to make report on
how the mock up should be modified and submit the report to the city
People’s Committee for consideration.
After getting the opinion of the committee, the board will ask
The mock-up is part of bid package No. 3 of the Ben Thanh-Suoi
Tien metro line project, carried out by
The metro line will be 19.7 km long, running from District 1
through Binh Thanh District, District 2, District 9 and Thu Duc District in
Total investment in the project is estimated at 236.6 billion
Japanese yen (US$1.97 billion), which comes from loans from
The metro line, which broke ground in August 2012, is slated
to be completed in 2019 and put into operation in 2020, when it can transport
about 186,000 passengers per day, according to the board.
A similar metro system is under construction in
Seminar promotes environmentally, socially responsible tourism
Delegates highlighted the important role of cultural heritages
in promoting tourism and creating benefits for society at a seminar held in
Participants proposed solutions to develop tourism in line
with heritage preservation under the model public-private-community.
They suggested improving tourism management capacity to better
control the number of tourists and possible impacts on heritage sites.
They asked for support policies to protect cultural resources
and the environment while encouraging stronger cooperation between
relevant agencies in charge of protecting cultural heritages and
tourism promotion.
Th event was co-hosted by the Vietnam Administration of
Tourism in cooperation with the EU-funded Environmentally and Socially
Responsible Tourism Capacity Development Program (ESRT).
Specific policies for female guest workers needed
Specific policies should be designed for Vietnamese female
guest workers to support them in dealing with risks and difficulties arising
while working and when returning home, heard a seminar on April 3.
The seminar was jointly held by the Overseas Workers
Management Department of the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs,
and the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN
Women).
Participants pointed out that current legal regulations and
policies relating to the issue of working abroad are currently applied for
both male and female guest workers.
Risks facing female guest workers varied, from labour
exploitation, physical abuse, to sexual harassment and non-payment.
And, when returning home, they have met with difficulties for
re-integration and access to public services and employment, participants
noted.
Backward social perceptions against women working abroad are
other obstacles.
According to Shoko Ishikawa, UN Women Chief Representative in
The projects also targets enhanced capacity for officials and
managers at Vietnamese enterprises specialising in sending workers abroad, said
Ishikawa.
Deputy head of the Overseas Workers Management Department Pham
Viet Huong said the department has focused on measures to protect the
legitimate rights and interests of overseas Vietnamese workers, through
working closely with the governments of the host countries.
As many as 500,000 Vietnamese labourers are working in over 40
countries and territories around the globe. Women accounted for 35
percent of the 90,000 Vietnamese working abroad a year averagely during
the past five years.
Vietnamese women mostly work as maids, nurses, hotel staff,
and factory workers in
Quang Binh villages to get solar power
Authorities in central Quang Binh province have conducted research
on a solar-power project to make sure it is cost effective in all areas that
it reaches.
If it is not effective in all villages, authorites said they
would switch to normal network power to link them up.
In 2012, Quang Binh started a 14 million USD project to supply
solar power to remote villages previously relying on generators, kerosene
or candles to produce light.
The Korean Government donated 12 million of the cost through
an Official Development Assistance (ODA) agreement.
The solar project is the biggest of its kind so far in
The project covers eight communes in four districts and will
eventually supply nearly 1,300 households and 78 offices.
Minh said that some areas would have electricity by the end of
the year.
Last October, Chairman of the Quang Binh People's Committee,
Nguyen Huu Hoai, also approved another project to supply network power to
several remote villages.
It is being backed by the provincial Department of Industry
and Trade with 368 billion VND (17.5 million USD) from the State budget.
The project, to hook-up Tan Trach and Thuong Trach communes in
Bo Trach District to the national grid, is being carried out after
authorities realised that solar power would not be best for most of the
villages.
Work is expected to be completed next year.
A local official said all projects would be completed around
the same time.
Phan Van Thuong, Director of the Quang Binh Department of
Industry and Trade, said that solar energy could be only used in homes and
not to manufacture goods.
Localities urged to invest more in combating HIV/AIDS
Localities should invest more in the fight against HIV/AIDS as
international aid and State budget for the effort are sharply dropping,
said participants at a conference in the Mekong Delta province of An
Giang on April 3 on ways to end HIV/AIDS by 2030.
According to Kristan Schoultz, Chief Representative of the United
Nations Joint Programme (UNAIDS) in Vietnam, joint efforts of all localities
will help deal with tough issues in HIV/AIDS control.
She added that it is necessary to be clearly aware that the
fight is not only the responsibility of central agencies and the health
sector, but also every people.
Participants at the conference shared views on how to maintain
sustainable financial sources for the fight against HIV/AIDS, key plans for
the work after 2015 as well as difficulties in the work.
Proposals of southern localities as well as well as the role
of the People’s Councils in supervising the implementation of policies to
fight HIV/AIDS were highlighted.
A friendly society to people living with HIV/AIDS is also
crucial in ending HIV/AIDS, they said.
According to Hoang Dinh Canh, deputy head of the Ministry of
Health’s Department for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control, currently, Vietnam
has over 226,800 people living with HIV/AIDS, including 71,000 suffered
AIDS.
He said the country’s strategy for the fight will focus on
targeted areas and high-risk groups. The HIV/AIDS combating network will be
completed, while health insurance will be expanded for people living
with AIDS, he added.
Canh revealed that the strategy targets 90 percent of HIV cases
are tested, and 90 percent of HIV carriers receive treatment by 2020,
thus eliminating the epidemic by 2030.-
Son La asked to work harder in drug trafficking fight
Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc asked the northwest
mountainous province of Son La to do more in the combat against drug
trafficking at his working session with the province’s authorities on
April 4.
In 2014 and the first quarter of 2015, Son La police busted a
number of cross-border drug trafficking rings. They had to even deal with
armed traffickers.
By the end of 2014, 72 out of the province’s 204 communes,
wards and towns were listed as drug hot spots, and 12 communes had drug
abuse.
Deputy PM Phuc suggested ministries and sectors supplement
capital for Son La to implement transport projects, including Road 102
crossing remote Lung Xa, Ta De and Long Luong villages in Van Ho
district and Hang Kia commune in Mai Chau district, thus making it easier for
the fight against drug trafficking.
According to Cam Ngoc Minh, Chairman of the provincial
People’s Committee, the province’s GDP last year grew by 11.3 percent over
the previous year, while its budget collection reached 2.86 trillion
VND (85.86 million USD), or a rise of 36 percent from the planned figure.
Son La has accomplished the goal of universalising primary
education, he said.
The provincial leader proposed that the Government provide
about 1.82 trillion VND for 12 projects in the locality together with
increased financial support for the protection and replanting of local forests.
He also asked for the Government’s larger technical and
financial assistance to the province’s fight against drug trafficking.
International arrivals to Vietnam fall 10.4 percent in March
An estimated 617,895 international arrivals was recorded in
Vietnam in March, down 10.4 percent from February and 12.9 percent from the
same period last year, according to the Vietnam National Administration of
Tourism (VNAT).
Of the figure, 538,554 came by air, down 10.2 percent from
February, while arrivals by land were 70,096, a fall of 19.7 percent.
An official from the VNAT’s Tourism Market Department
attributed the fall to a sharp drop in the number of vacationers from the two
big tourist sources, China and Russia.
Since late 2014, Vietnam witnessed a downward number of
holiday-makers from Russia, which always stands among the top 10 tourist
markets of Vietnam.
This March saw a month-on-month decline of 15.8 percent in
Russian arrivals to the country to 27,950, which also represented a 29.3
percent decrease year on year.
Chinese arrivals in March reached only 103.670, down 18.3
percent over February and 45.6 percent over the same period last year.
An upward foreign arrival trend is expected to be achieved in
April given it hosts a number of big celebrations.
Over 1,000 disadvantaged people received free treatment,
medicines
Pham Ngoc Thach Medicine University’s social charity
delegation held a trip to Bao Loc City of Lam Dong province to offer free
examination, treatment to local people on April 4.
Doctors gave examination and treatment, medicines to over
1,000 disadvantaged people.
On this occasion, the delegation gave two houses worth VND
30million each to poor households; 4 wheelchairs to disable people and 140
gifts to children.
Votive paper burning guts cemetery garden
A fire gutted thousands of square metres of a garden in a
cemetery yesterday in the northern Hai Phong City's Lai Xuan Commune.
The blaze was allegedly caused after people lit up paper
votives in the cemetery on the occasion of Qingming Festival, which fell on
April 5 this year.
During the festival, both young and old members of a family
remember and pray for their ancestors at their graves.
After the paper votives were lit, the dried grass in the
cemetery caught fire.
The blaze was put out after an hour and a half, and no
casualties were reported.
Greater local political role urged for ethnic minorities
Chairman of the Government Committee for Ethnic Minority
Affairs Giang Seo Phu yesterday called on localities to pay more attention to
appointing ethnic minority officials and attracting more students and
intellectuals from the communities into the local political system.
He also called for greater policy support from the Steering
Committee for the Southwestern Region for new rural area development, hunger
eradication and poverty reduction.
In a working session with the committee in charge of social
and economic development in the southwestern region held in the Cuu Long
(Mekong) Delta province of Can Tho, Phu also highlighted the importance of
improving education levels among ethnic minority communities.
Land policies should also be adjusted to meet local
requirements, he added.
Ha Huu Lien, head of the steering committee's department for
ethnic and religious affairs, said that the southwestern region comprised of
1.4 million ethnic minority people, accounting for 8 per cent of the region's
population, with 12 religions.
Lien said that the rate of poor households among ethnic
minorities had decreased from 36.6 per cent in 2011 to 16.47 per cent last
year.
The ethnic minority people had gained achievements in economic
development and education, he said.
Source :
VNA/VNS/VOV/SGT/SGGP/Dantri
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Thứ Hai, 6 tháng 4, 2015
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