On the evening of September 20, the Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention provided information to clarify this content.
According to this agency, the Disaster Prevention Fund was established and operates under the Law on Disaster Prevention and Control and Decree 78/2021/ND-CP. This is a non-budgetary state financial fund, operating not for profit. This fund includes the Central Disaster Prevention Fund (managed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) and the Provincial Disaster Prevention Fund (managed by the Provincial People's Committee).
According to information from the Department of Dyke Management and Natural Disaster Prevention, the Provincial Natural Disaster Prevention Fund was established and operated since 2014. As of September 20, 63/63 provinces and cities had collected 5,925 billion VND, spent 3,686 billion VND, and had a surplus of 2,263 billion VND.
Regarding this large balance, Director of the Department of Dyke Management and Natural Disaster Prevention Pham Duc Luan affirmed that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development does not keep or manage this amount of money. This is the remaining fund amount that 63 provinces and cities are keeping and managing.
Revenue sources of the provincial fund include: support money, voluntary contributions from domestic and foreign organizations and individuals; compulsory contributions from domestic and foreign economic organizations in the area (minimum 500,000 VND, maximum 100 million VND); Vietnamese citizens from 18 years old to retirement age under normal working conditions according to the provisions of the law on labor; regulation from the central fund and between provincial funds; interest from deposit accounts...
Regarding the management and use of this fund, the Department of Dyke Management and Natural Disaster Prevention said that all revenue from the fund during the year (including interest from deposit accounts) is spent to support disaster response activities; relief, support to overcome the consequences of natural disasters; support prevention activities. "The remaining fund at the provincial level is the amount of money collected from the fund's establishment. If it is not spent in full each year, it will be transferred to the following years for continued use," informed a representative of the Department of Dyke Management and Natural Disaster Prevention.
Currently, after suffering damage caused by storm No. 3, some localities plan to use the Natural Disaster Prevention Fund to overcome the consequences. Specifically, Lao Cai province: 5 billion VND; Hai Phong city: 50 billion VND; Dien Bien province: 3 billion VND; Yen Bai province: 13 billion VND; Thai Nguyen province: 10 billion VND. Other provinces are summarizing the damage, reviewing and proposing to use this fund.
“This fund of 2,160 billion VND mostly exists in provinces and cities with high population density and businesses such as Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Hanoi... which collect a lot of funds but are less affected by natural disasters,” said Mr. Luan.
The representative of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development also affirmed that according to regulations, the Natural Disaster Prevention Fund of one province is transferred to another province, so some localities have used their own Natural Disaster Prevention Fund to support damages to other localities.
Of which, Ho Chi Minh City has supported Dau Tieng - Phuoc Hoa Irrigation Exploitation Company Limited with about 7.5 billion VND in 2017 and 2021, and is expected to support 6 billion VND in 2024; Da Nang City has supported provinces affected by natural disasters (Ha Giang, Ha Tinh, Quang Tri, Quang Binh, Nghe An, Thua Thien Hue, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Son La, Yen Bai, Thanh Hoa, Khanh Hoa) with about 49.9 billion VND. In addition, Lao Cai has advanced the Provincial Disaster Prevention Fund to support Lai Chau province to overcome natural disaster damage of 4 billion VND in 2019.
Mr. Pham Duc Luan affirmed that the money of this fund is currently in the localities. “Since its establishment, due to difficulties in the operating model, the central fund has not been able to operate. Therefore, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development does not manage any natural disaster prevention fund,” Mr. Luan said.
According to Mr. Luan, the responsibility for publicizing the revenue and expenditure of this fund will be the responsibility of the Chairman of the People's Committee of the provinces and cities.
VAN PHUC
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