Social News 20/6 Đồng Tháp Province to ban fishing in breeding season   To protect and develop the aquatic ecosystem, Đồng Tháp Province will ban fishing in the breeding season. Photo: sggp.org.vn  Local authorities in Đồng Tháp Province will ban fishing in the breeding season from May to June to proctect aquatic resources in the province. Nguyễn Văn Tùng, a resident in An Bình A Commune, said: “We have to protect the natural aquaculture areas for the future”. “Đồng Tháp Province has tangled canal systems with plenty of natural food, so fish can grow and develop faster there than in other places,” he added . A report from the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said that illegal fishing using explosives and electrical shocks was still continuing. In addition, the aquatic ecosystem and natural breeding grounds are also affected by boats engaging in illegal activities on the water. The boats are also causing pollution. The province’s People’s Committee said it would raise public awareness among residents about the importance of keeping these aquaculture areas free of waste and illegal activities. Poverty reduction model tackles malnutrition among women, children   Malnutrition rates among mothers and children improved remarkably in the northern provinces of Lào Cai, Lai Châu and Hà Giang through a poverty reduction project, which ended in June 2018. Malnutrition rates among mothers and children improved remarkably in the northern provinces of Lào Cai, Lai Châu and Hà Giang through a poverty reduction project, which ended in June 2018. The 32-month project, “Scaling up small-scale food processing for therapeutic and complementary foods for children in Việt Nam,” was implemented by the National Institute of Nutrition and the Ryerson University of Canada. It promoted food security by increasing the availability of fortified complementary foods for children and providing a higher and more stable source of income for small-scale women farmers. “The project has tackled poverty and malnutrition among women and children with fortified foods involving the use of locally grown crops, local manufacturing facilities and local distribution channels. The model is expected to improve livelihoods, nutrition and food security for thousands of rural Vietnamese farmers in the three provinces,” project official Huỳnh Nam Phương said. “According to the results of the project, the child underweight rate was reduced to 13.9 per cent from 17.2 per cent, while the wasting rate (low weight for height) reduced from 7.6 per cent to 3.4 per cent. The rate of anaemia among children also reduced from 61.3 per cent to 16.1 per cent,” Phương added. The project has benefitted more than 18,100 children underthe age of two through 10,150 counselling contacts and nearly 4,300 group counselling sessions. Some 450 women have been trained in Good Agricultural Practices, and some 15 easy-to-access Little Sun nutrition counselling centres have been set up at community health clinics at the provincial, district and commune levels. An ISO22000 compliant SSFP food production facility has been established in Lào Cai province, with a capacity of 100 tonnes of fortified instant porridge and two million packets of vegetablesevery year. The facility currently serves food to nearly 2,500 students in four primary schools as well as to Lào Cai General Hospital. According to Phương, the lesson learnt from the project will be the foundation for the development and implementation of national food security policies, such as Việt Nam’s National Nutrition Strategy.  New programming competition opens   KMS Hackathon, a 30-hour programming competition, has opened. Photo courtesy of the organiser Applications are open for the inaugural KMS Hackathon, a 30-hour programming competition. The contest, with the theme “30-hour hacking for social impacts”, aims to address current issues in various areas such as social life, security, public health, energy, environment, and transportation by applying advanced technologies, smart solutions, AI, and chatbots with natural language processing. It is open to programmers, software engineers, IT specialists, project leaders and managers building software products, and IT and computer science students. Participating teams will have to develop their products within 30 hours. The US$10,000 prize consists of cash and gifts. Besides, participants will have the opportunity to attract investments from funds and start-up incubators and mentoring from experts. The jury will include Phong Bùi, KMS Technology’s deputy director of technology, Lâm Quang Vũ, deputy director of the HCM City University of Science’s IT faculty, Uy Trần, managing director of UpStar Labs, Tăng Hải Ngọc Sơn, winner of the 2016 Facebook Hackathon Southeast Asia, and representatives of local and international investment funds. The evaluation will be based on the ability to utilise state-of-the-art technologies such as AI and chatbot as well as teamwork, creativity and business potential. Registration is now open on the website of the competition at hackathon.kms-technology.com, and ends on July 10. The final round will be held on July 14-15. The contest is organised by KMS Technology. MoT reports Government on Tân Đệ toll station   A driver takes the barrier to make his truck travelling through the toll station without paying fee. The Ministry of Transport (MoT) has reported to the government about the operation of Tân Đệ Build-Operation-Transfer (BOT) toll station in the northern province of Thái Bình. Drivers have been rejecting to pay the toll and threatening the toll station’s staff since early May as they thought the payback period was over last month. The ministry said the BOT toll station belonged to the project to upgrade a section of National Highway No. 10, connecting La Uyên Bridge to Tân Đệ Bridge in the province, with an investment of more than VNĐ715 billion (US$31 million). The toll station became operational in July 2012. The payback period was initially estimated to be 21 years and three months. However, after the ministry re-considered the number of vehicles passing through the toll station, the payback period was reduced to 10 years and three months. Therefore, the deadline for toll collection was set in June 2019. Later, the ministry decided to add the Đông Hưng Bypass to the project following the approval of the government. The investment to construct the bypass is VNĐ430 billion ($18.7 million). Therefore, the payback period was re-adjusted again, this time at 11 years and nine months. This extends the deadline for toll collection until January 2021. In response to the situation, the administration of Thái Bình province has ordered relevant agencies to actively answer questions of drivers. Additionally, local police have also been asked to maintain order at the toll station.  Conference highlights role of journalism in HCM City’s development   HCM City Party Committee Secretary Nguyễn Thiện Nhân at a forum held yesterday (June 19) in HCM City tells the press that it should inspire the public by commending outstanding individuals who do good things. HCM City Party Committee Secretary Nguyễn Thiện Nhân yesterday asked city authorities to offer more financial assistance and new policies for the press for continued communication, especially to promote National Assembly Resolution No. 54 to “pilot a special mechanism and policy for the development of HCM City”. At a forum on journalism and publishing to mark the 93rd Việt Nam Revolutionary Press Day, Nhân said the press — including print newspapers, television channels, radio stations, and online news sites, should suggest solutions, not just offer criticism, for the city’s development. Journalists should observe, analyse, and seek solutions to the city’s shortcomings from people, experts and scientists, he said.  The press should also continue strengthen the fight against bureaucracy, corruption, waste, and social evils, he added. They should commend outstanding individuals who do good things to inspire the public, he added. The city plans to set up a press centre and meet journalists periodically to exchange information about the city’s issues, Nhân said. Thân Thị Thư of the city’s Party Committee said the press should encourage innovation and creativity among all the city’s residents.   The city’s agencies should also improve awareness about the role of the press and provide information for sufficient and timely communication for residents to have a better understanding and support for Party resolutions and National Assembly Resolution No 54.  The head of the city Department of Information and Communication, Dương Anh Đức, said the press has an important role in the implementation of Party resolutions and National Assembly resolution No 54. The forum was held to discuss solutions on how best to achieve communication about achievements and policies of the country and the city. Many publishers who attended the forum said that policies for the publishing sector should be issued to help them improve their services.   On the same day, the city Department of Science and Technology organised a scientific conference ”Journalism for Science and Technology Development and Community Service”. The department’s representative said that communication about science and technology had contributed to the city’s development. Many science and technology programmes, including a ecosystem for startup, international co-operation and markets, have been communicated well within the community. Information is also needed about assistance for small and medium-sized enterprises to improve competitiveness. Journalist Bùi Việt Hà of Khám Phá (Discovery) magazine said the Department of Science and Technology plans to carry out a tour for the press throughout the city about science and technology used in enterprises and organisations as well as startups. Nguyễn Khắc Thanh, the department’s deputy head, said the department will set up a network between managers, researchers, enterprises and journalists to strengthen communication about science and technology. Oysters die en mass, farmers incur losses   Oysters die en mass in the Tiến Thành Oyster Cooperative. — Photo laodong.vn More than 300ha of oyster farms producing some 500 tonnes of oysters have died in Long Hòa commune, Châu Thành district in southern Trà Vinh province. Phạm Văn Trường, director of the Tiến Thành Oyster Cooperative, said 200ha of the cooperative’s ponds cultivating oysters had died. Normally, with an investment of VNĐ5 billion (US$222,200), the cooperative can harvest 500 tonnes of oysters and earn VNĐ10 billion ($444,400). “This year we do not have any profits,” Trường said. The cooperative has 318 members, and more than 50 per cent of them are poor households. Huỳnh Văn Hoàn, head of the Hai Thủ Oyster Cooperative, said the cooperative had hoped to harvest 250 tonnes of oysters. However, it harvested only some 100 tonnes, incurring losses of more than VNĐ3.3 billion ($146,600). Forty poor households of the cooperative will not earn any profits this oyster season. According to Nguyễn Văn Nguyên, deputy secretary of the Party of Hai Thủ Village, many households in the area in recent years have been raising shrimps without any waste water treatment system in place. They discharge the waste water into the sea, which may have led to the death of oysters. “The waste water had dark blue colour and bad smell,” Nguyên said. More than 300 households in the village cultivate shrimps. Trường said tests revealed the presence of bacteria in ponds cultivating shrimps, which he believed was the main cause of oysters’ death. Nguyễn Thanh Thưởng, deputy chairman of the Long Hòa commune People’s Committee, said the commune had 1,600ha of ponds cultivating aquatic products, of which 320ha were used for shrimp cultivation. More than 50 per cent of the area did not have any waste water treatment system. “This is reason enough to claim that untreated waste water is the cause of oysters’ death,” Thưởng said. However, Huỳnh Quốc Vũ, chairman of the Long Hòa commune People’s Committee, said the committee was yet to arrive at a conclusion. Meanwhile, it is educating local farmers about the treatment of waste water from shrimp cultivation.  Kon Tum prepares for flood season   A view of the Đắk Uy irrigational dam, the biggest irrigational work in the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum.  The Kon Tum Irrigational Work Management Board has spent nearly VNĐ2 billion (US$88,800) to repair 19 irrigational dams ahead of the flood season this year. The money has been spent from the provincial irrigational management budget. The 19 dams are in the four districts and cities of Ngọc Hồi, Đắk Glei, Đắk Hà and Kon Tum. At present, irrigational works in the Central Highlands province are scattered in 10 districts and cities. According to the management board, they are quite far from each other, and since the local terrain poses many obstacles, inspectors face a lot of problems in conducting checks. Many irrigational works that were built a long time ago have deteriorated. Whenever it rains, mud and trees from the riverhead drift to the dams and reservoirs, hindering their operations. Nguyễn Hữu Nghĩa, head of the Technology Division under the Kon Tum Irrigational Work Management Board, said the board had checked all irrigational works to better prepare for the flood season this year. The board has checked 71 reservoirs, set up plans for 24 reservoirs for flood prevention in residential quarters and plans to protect Đắk Uy and Đắk Yên reservoirs, which have a capacity of more than five million cubic metres.  Hà Nội tackes illegal building at 8B Lê Trực Street   Public safety is cited as the main reason for the delay in handling the second phase of demolition at 8B Lê Trực. The Hà Nội City People’s Committee is working on the second phase of the demolition of the illegally constructed 19th floor of a building at 8B Lê Trực Street, in Ba Đình District. The second phase of handling violations at 8B Lê Trực building has faced new problems, which need to be resolved thoroughly. According to the Phương Bắc Group Joint Stock Company - the unit which completed the first phase of the demolition, the breakdown of the unallowed area will undoubtedly affect the structure, safety and sustainability of the building. The building was licensed for 18 stories, but the investor illegally built the 19th floor. Phương Bắc company has completed demolishing the 19th floor in the first phase. However, the investor also adjusted the height of the floors so the authorities have to continue the second phase. Due to the complexity of the architecture and structure of the building, the demolition in the second phase will require the removal of most of the pillars and beams of the building. Therefore, the company has suggested the city authorities assign the task of the second phase of demolition to the building’s design unit because only the design unit fully understands the core structure of the building.  If the second phase’s dismantlement project is assessed as absolutely safe, then Phương Bắc company will have enough grounds to complete dismantlement measures to submit to relevant agencies for approval. But nearly two years since the demolition began, the design unit has still not come up with the second phase’s plan to ensure safety. Phương Bắc company said that the second phase’s dismantling has a high risk level, while destroying the whole building will waste social resources. At present, there is no legal document that allows the authorities to demolish the whole building. On the other hand, most of the areas from the 18th floor and below have been purchased. The second stage of dismantling will therefore face opposition from the people who have deposited on the apartments. For the above reasons, the Phương Bắc company has requested to thoroughly handle the illegally-constructed 8B Lê Trực building to save money and ensure the interests of people involved. If the work doesn’t affect security and national defence, the company has proposed investors to buy back the whole area that should not have been built but already been sold to customers and the money collected should be put it into the State budget instead of dismantling. The second phase’s dismantling wastes social assets and causes risks to people’s safety, including construction workers, residents living around the building, and road users. In addition, the company requires investors to pay the full cost of the first phase’s demolition and fund the maintenance of tower cranes, cage hoists and other equipment used since the end of first phase. During the rainy season, the storage of tower cranes and hoists causes risks, the company proposed to dismantle the tower cranes and cage hoists for maintenance. On the above recommendations, Vice Chairman of the Hà Nội People’s Committee Nguyễn Thế Hưng has assigned the Department of Construction to co-ordinate with Ba Đình District to re-check the process of handling violations. The 8B Lê Trực building’s developer was Lê Trực Garment Joint Stock Company.  Lending a helping hand   Volunteers of Đà Nẵng City’s Youth Union help local residents set up e-citizen account. — Photo tienphong.vn It may only be early, but Eko Community Support Centre in Đà Nẵng City is already busy. At 7.30am on Saturday, the venue in Hòa Minh Ward of Liên Chiểu District is filled with locals with one goal – to get help and support from the Youth Union. Over the past two years, these groups have become the place locals turn to for help dealing with issues relating to administrations procedures such as land, identity cards, household registration books or birth certificates. Local resident Nguyễn Thanh Sơn told Tiền Phong (Vanguard) newspaper his land paper problem was dealt quickly thanks the group. “I had to go many times to local administrative office to deal with problem on land paper because it requires many types of papers such as household registration book or birth certificate to complete administrative tasks,” Sơn said. “When I went to the support centre, a judicial officer guided me carefully about administrative papers related to land and every issue was dealt quickly.” Sơn said now he often goes to the centre to get help with other admin problems. Opening two years ago, the drop-in advice centres are held the first and third Saturdays of each month. Besides the youth union members, there are young judicial officers from wards and districts. “We assist the local people with all types of administrative procedures. This activity is implemented in seven districts and 56 wards and communes of the city to support people quickly and help deal with backlog of administrative procedures,” said Nguyễn Hoàng Huy, an officer of the support centre. Joining the centre two years ago, Lê Thị Giang, a judicial officer of Hòa Minh Ward, said she often helped local residents. “We do this voluntarily to help local residents without any pay,” Giang said. “We will report the issues which are not in our competence to higher agencies to help the people.” From this month, the City Youth Union in co-ordination with Department of Information and Communications and Public Service Information Centre also organised consultancy activities for citizens to set up e-citizen account and online public services. “I only showed my ID card and some necessary information to the centre’s volunteer and then I quickly received an e-citizen account a few minutes later,” said Trương Sáu, a resident from Hòa Minh Ward. “After getting an account, I was also guided to the simple online public services by the officers. It’s very convenient and saves time. The officers are also friendly,” he said. Besides supporting administrative procedures, the Youth Union helps elderly people navigate the web, said Nguyễn Duy Minh, secretary of the City’s Youth Union. “For elders who don’t have computer, the volunteers will help them create account and register online administrative procedures so they can get results soon,” Minh said.  Residents volunteer land for development projects   Residents in Bính Xá Commune, Đình Lập District join hands to build a new road. — Photo daidoanket.vn A total of 317 households have donated more than 102,000sq.m of land to conduct 29 projects related to advancing infrastructure in Đình Lập District, in the northern Lạng Sơn Province from 2013-18. Last year, two more communes in the district, Bính Xá and Bắc Xa, were developed. Hoàng Thanh Đạm, deputy chairman of the Đình Lập District People’s Committee, said the committee joined hands with concerned organisations to educate to local residents on the benefits of a new lifestyle created by development to encourage them to volunteer to join the projects. Since the beginning of last year, local authorities held more than 70 talks about building a new rural lifestyle with the participation of more than 2,300 residents. Since being educated about the projects and grasping a better understanding of the targets of the programme many local people have volunteered to join. With the land donated from the residents, five schools and 18 roads were built. Dương Kim Thọ, head of the Còn Áng Village, Đình Lập Commune, donated nearly 3,900sq.m of his land to build the Bản Chuông-Bình Chương Road. He also gave encouraged 25 other households to join him. Bế Đức Toàn, a resident in Pò Mát Village in Bính Xá Commune, said that his family was aware of the importance and long-term benefits of infrastructure development. “Building new rural infrastructure will creating good conditions for the locality’s development, and will ultimately improve local residents’ lives,” he said. “So my family agreed to donate a part of our land for the community’s benefit,” he said. Toàn’s family donated 4,600sq.m of land to build the Khe Bủng Road.  Kid’s party offers summer fun for kids The kids’ summer party will offer a wide range of interesting activities for young participants. — Photo courtesy of Family Medical Practice. A kids’ summer party might offer a suggestion for parents who are looking for meaningful activities for their kids during the summer vacation. Jointly organised by Family Medical Practice, Young Hit Young Beat, LASKA, and British Council, as well as 10 other respected sponsors and partners, the party will feature outdoor stage performances, a magic show, and a Zumba dance session. At the same time, children can play in a bouncing castle and a water wall or create buildings with wooden legos, join henna tattoo activities, engage in face painting, or get their pictures taken in 3D photo-taking corner. There will also be a Charity Station where participants can donate used clothes, books, toys and school stationery for children in need. “Family Medical Practice sees great importance in the kid and the family, since it’s one of the two pillars that our primary care is built upon,” Ram Shahar, Chief Operation Officer of Family Medical Practice, said. “We do the kids’ summer party as a token of appreciation to the kids and the families. We also do it because the kids, all year long, come when they are sick and vulnerable and we believe that once a year the kids should enjoy and have fun when they come to the clinic.” The event will be free for all kids below 10 and their parents. The party will be held from from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. this Sunday at the Vạn Phúc Compound, 298 Kim Mã Street, Ba Đình District. For registration, please visit this link: http://goo.gl/forms/fPX8aOWNaHSYBVga2. For more details, please contact Huong Le via phone number 0913 781 696.  Cải lương show to raise money for poor artists   Meritorious Artist Tú Sương will perform for free at the charity show Kết Nối Thiện Tâm (Connecting with Love), in HCM City to raise funds for poor artists. — Photo courtesy of the organiser Veteran and young cải lương (reformed theatre) artists will perform at the HCM City Drama Theatre for a charity show this month to raise funds for poor theatre artists. The concert, Kết Nối Thiện Tâm (Connecting with Love), will feature Meritorious Artist Tú Sương and cải lương star Kim Ngân, together with young talents from traditional art troupes.   Extracts from historical plays such as Thái Hậu Dương Vân Nga (Queen Dương Vân Nga) and Trần Quốc Toản (Young Hero Trần Quốc Toản) will be performed. Featured performances will be staged by Sương, who has more than 30 years of experience in the theatre. Sương has won several top prizes at national theatre festivals and competitions, including the Golden Prize for best actress at Trần Hữu Trang Awards presented by HCM City Theatre Artists’ Association in 2015. She works for Trần Hữu Trang Theatre, one of the region’s leading traditional art troupes, and has performed as a lead actress in dozens of quality plays. Sương and her colleagues will perform for free. All proceeds will be given to help poor artists, elderly artists and backstage workers. The show Kết Nối Thiện Tâm will begin at 8pm on June 29. 8 teams to compete in U17 football final   PVF Centre. — Photo nghean24h.vn Eight teams will compete in the final round of the National U17 Football Championship at the Promotion Fund for Vietnamese Football Talent (PVF) Centre in northern province of Hưng Yên from June 26 to July 6. The teams include Police, Viettel, SHB Đà Nẵng, Sông Lam Nghệ An, Hoàng Anh Gia Lai, Becamex Bình Dương, An Giang and hosts PVF, who have qualified in the qualifying round. The teams will play in a round-robin format in the group stage, and the four best teams will advance to the semi-finals. The final of the championship promises exciting matches for football fans.  VNN