Circular No. 02/2021/TT-BNNPTNT guiding the construction of disaster prevention and control plans at all levels in localities

CIRCULAR

Guidelines for developing disaster prevention and control plans at all levels in localities levels at the locality

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Pursuant to the Law on Natural Disaster Prevention and Control dated June 19, 2013;

Pursuant to the Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Articles of the Law on Disaster Prevention and Control and the Law on Dikes dated June 17, 2020;

Pursuant to Decree No. 15/2017/NĐ-CP dated February 17, 2017 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development;

At the request of the Director General of the National Disaster Prevention and Control Agency;

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development issues this Circular guiding the development of disaster prevention and control plans at all levels in localities.

PART I
GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Circular guides the development of disaster prevention and control plans at all levels in localities as prescribed in Article 15 of the Law on Disaster Prevention and Control, which has been amended and supplemented under Clause 10, Article 1 of the Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Articles of the Law on Disaster Prevention and Control and the Law on Dikes in 2020.

Article 2. Applicability

This Circular applies to agencies, organizations, and individuals involved in activities related to the development of disaster prevention and control plans at all levels in localities.

Article 3. Procedures for Developing Disaster Prevention and Control Plans

1. Review and collect materials; investigate and survey basic data.

2. Identify and assess risks and propose solutions.

3. Draft the disaster prevention and control plan; seek opinions from relevant agencies and units; incorporate feedback and revise the draft.

4. Issue the disaster prevention and control plan: People's Committees at all levels approve and issue their own disaster prevention and control plans.

Chapter II
DISASTER PREVENTION AND CONTROL PLANS AT ALL LEVELS IN LOCALITIES

Section 1
PROVINCE-LEVEL DISASTER PREVENTION AND CONTROL PLAN

Article 4. Contents of the Province-Level Disaster Prevention and Control Plan

1. Legal bases for drafting the plan: The Law on Disaster Prevention and Control; the Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Articles of the Law on Disaster Prevention and Control and the Law on Dikes; the Law on Water Resources; the National Strategy on Disaster Prevention and Control; guiding documents of the Law and other related documents.

2. Objectives and requirements: Consistent with the Party’s guidelines and policies, the provincial People's Council, strategies, planning, and disaster prevention and control plans of higher levels; forecasting and warning; actual conditions and resources of the province.

3. Characteristics of natural environment, population, socio-economic conditions, and infrastructure including:

a) Natural characteristics: Geographic location, topography, geology, meteorological, hydrological, and marine conditions.

b) Population, socio-economic characteristics, and main infrastructure as stipulated in Article 5 of this Circular.

4. Assessment of current disaster prevention and control work as prescribed in Article 6 of this Circular.

5. Identification and assessment of disaster risks including: Determination of common types of disasters; scope, methods, and contents of assessment as prescribed in Article 7 of this Circular.

6. Measures for disaster prevention and control including: Preventive, response, recovery, and reconstruction measures appropriate to different risk levels; integrated flood management plans for river basins within the province and other related plans as prescribed in Article 8 of this Circular.

7. Integration of disaster prevention and control content: Determination of methods and ways to integrate disaster prevention and control content into economic and social development plans as guided by the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

8. Determination of resources and annual and five-year progress as prescribed in Article 9 of this Circular.

9. Determination of responsibilities of organizations and individuals in implementing, monitoring, and supervising the implementation of the disaster prevention and control plan as prescribed in Article 10 of this Circular.

1. Characteristics of population and socio-economic conditions:

a) Population characteristics include total population, density, distribution, vulnerable groups, ethnic minorities, poverty rate, near-poor households, number of households in high-risk areas requiring relocation; housing characteristics (permanent, semi-permanent, poorly constructed, simple) and distribution by district administrative units; education, health, cultural, and ethnic characteristics.

b) Socio-economic characteristics include major industries affected by disasters (agriculture, forestry, fisheries, industry, trade, tourism, and services); socio-economic development orientation of the locality.

2. Infrastructure characteristics:

Statistics and general evaluation of main infrastructure within the management area, including: Transportation systems, irrigation, disaster prevention and control systems; power grid, communication, broadcasting, and television networks; drainage, clean water supply, environmental treatment systems; school and hospital systems, industrial zones; rescue and evacuation routes, and other infrastructure. General statistics and evaluations cover the entire province or centrally-administered city, with detailed assessments for key disaster-prone areas down to the district level.

Article 6. Evaluation of the current status of disaster prevention and control work

1. Legal documents and policies related to disaster prevention and control: Evaluate the level of implementation of laws, mechanisms, and policies; plans for ensuring resources and operational conditions for the Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control and Search and Rescue and forces engaged in disaster prevention and control work.

3. Early warning and forecasting work: Evaluate the current status of early warning and forecasting work at the local level through central agencies, meteorological and hydrological forecasting agencies, and responsible agencies within the province and region regarding detail level, reliability, completeness, continuity, timeliness, understandability, and communication tools.

4. Means, materials, and equipment for disaster prevention and control: Inventory and evaluate the current status, list, quantity, quality, storage locations, entities and individuals assigned management responsibilities within the provincial territory. General assessment of management and usage mechanisms, current response capabilities, and future needs.

5. Emergency response and search and rescue work: Evaluate the capacity of core forces in emergency response and search and rescue operations within the provincial territory; participation of other civilian organizations and individuals. The evaluation includes the number, capacity, equipment, and means of these forces.

6. Information and communication on disaster prevention and control: Evaluate the current status of information and communication systems at the local level; methods of information dissemination and promotion on disaster prevention and control work. Evaluate the application and management capability of disaster prevention and control databases at the local level.

7. Community capacity and awareness on disaster prevention and control:

General assessment of community awareness and skills in responding to disasters and training activities on disaster prevention and control at the local level.

8. Infrastructure for disaster prevention and control: Evaluate the system of disaster prevention and control works (weather, hydrology, marine, seismic observation stations, disaster warning systems, dike, dam, retaining wall, flood prevention, drought prevention, saline intrusion prevention, landslide prevention, land subsidence prevention, flash flood prevention, lightning protection, storm shelters for vessels, evacuation houses, forest fire prevention and firefighting works, and other works serving disaster prevention and control); power supply systems, communication and broadcasting systems; transportation systems for rescue and relief operations.

9. Evaluation of the integration of disaster prevention and control content in programs, projects, planning, and development plans: Directive documents; results of integration, advantages and difficulties; recommendations and suggestions.

10. Evaluation of post-disaster recovery and reconstruction work: Current status of support for disaster aftermath recovery (damage statistics and needs); results of implementing support policies and using emergency resources to repair infrastructure, stabilize livelihoods, and implement resettlement projects in disaster-affected areas.

11. Evaluation of financial resources for disaster prevention and control work at the local level, including direct or indirect investment (through integrated content): Recurrent budget, development investment budget, state budget reserve, financial reserve fund, ODA funds, international organization support funds, disaster prevention and control fund, and other lawful sources.

Article 7. Determination and Assessment of Natural Disaster Risks

1. Determine the types of natural disasters commonly encountered according to the natural disaster risk zones issued in Table 1, Appendix I attached hereto and the natural disaster warning map of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment as stipulated in Point b Clause 1 Article 17 of the Law on Prevention and Control of Natural Disasters.

2. Assessing natural disaster risks

a) Scope of assessment:

The spatial scope is the assessment of natural disaster risks at the administrative units of the locality; the temporal scope is the assessment of future natural disaster risks due to the impact of climate change (based on the latest climate change scenarios published by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment), a series of data collected on the intensity of natural disasters and losses in the past five to ten years, and statistics on historical natural disasters and major natural disasters that occurred previously;

b) Methods and contents of assessment, in the following sequence:

Assess the intensity of each typical type of natural disaster at the locality based on the levels of natural disaster risk prescribed by the Prime Minister, using actual measurement data and calculation results to assess the intensity of each typical type of natural disaster at the locality; assess the vulnerability of each affected object such as: people, housing, key economic sectors (agriculture, small-scale industry, industry, commerce, tourism), infrastructure (transportation, construction, power, telecommunications, water conservancy, natural disaster prevention and control, health, education, culture); comprehensively assess the level of risk of each type of natural disaster affecting each object due to the impact of climate change on economic and social activities within the management scope.

3. Construct a natural disaster risk map of the locality with a scale ranging from 1:5,000 to 1:50,000 and consistent with the administrative maps of various levels of the locality; for areas prone to frequent natural disasters and high population density, a larger scale map than 1:5,000 should be constructed; describe the level of risk for each type of natural disaster using different colors (light blue: low risk, light yellow: medium risk, orange: high risk, red: very high risk, and purple: catastrophe).

Article 8. Contents and Measures for Preventing and Controlling Natural Disasters

1. Determine the contents and measures for preventing and controlling natural disasters appropriate to the levels of natural disaster risk and specific types of natural disasters to minimize natural disaster risks, paying attention to dangerous areas and vulnerable groups, specifically: preventive and mitigation measures (engineering and non-engineering measures); response measures and post-disaster recovery measures.

2. Focus on developing comprehensive flood management plans for river basins within the province; plans for preventing and controlling strong typhoons and super typhoons; plans for preventing and controlling flash floods and landslides; plans for preventing and controlling droughts and saltwater intrusion; plans for preventing and controlling riverbank erosion caused by floods or currents, and coastal erosion.

3. Specific measures for certain detailed types of natural disasters listed in Appendix II attached hereto. Basic provincial-level measures for preventing and controlling natural disasters detailed in Appendix III attached hereto.

Article 9. Human and Financial Resources and Annual and Five-Year Progress for Implementing the Plan for Preventing and Controlling Natural Disasters

1. Human and financial resources for implementing the plan for preventing and controlling natural disasters are prescribed in Articles 6 and 8 of the Law on Prevention and Control of Natural Disasters, amended and supplemented according to Clause 3 and Clause 5 of Article 1 of the Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Provisions of the Law on Prevention and Control of Natural Disasters and the Law on Dikes.

2. Annual and five-year progress for implementing the plan for preventing and controlling natural disasters: Based on the list of tasks, programs, projects, and plans for preventing and controlling natural disasters, prioritize their implementation, divide them into investment phases, determine the resources for implementation; annually review, update, and supplement the provincial-level plan for preventing and controlling natural disasters. Allocate funds for the annual plan and the five-year plan.

Article 10. Responsibilities of organizations and individuals in implementing, inspecting, and monitoring the implementation of disaster prevention and control plans

Determine the specific tasks and assign responsibilities of organizations and individuals in implementing, inspecting, and monitoring the implementation of provincial disaster prevention and control plans.

1. Implement assigned tasks within the disaster prevention and control plan; progress and resources to ensure the implementation of tasks in the disaster prevention and control plan.

2. Develop annual implementation plans to achieve the goals set out in the five-year plan; review, evaluate, and adjust the annual and five-year disaster prevention and control plans.

3. Deploy, monitor, and evaluate the implementation of the provincial disaster prevention and control plan; compile, report, and monitor the implementation process of the annual and five-year plans.

Section 2
DISASTER PREVENTION AND CONTROL PLAN AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL

1. Legal bases for developing the plan: Law on Disaster Prevention and Control; Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Provisions of the Law on Disaster Prevention and Control and the Law on Dikes; Water Resources Law; provincial disaster prevention and control plan; guiding documents of the Law and related documents.

2. Objectives and requirements: Consistent with the provincial disaster prevention and control plan; the policy of the People's Council at the district level; actual conditions and resources at the district level.

3. Natural, demographic, economic, and social characteristics, including:

a) Natural characteristics: Geographic location; topographic, geological features; meteorological, hydrological, marine conditions.

b) Demographic, economic, and social characteristics, infrastructure as stipulated in Article 12 of this Circular.

4. Local disaster situation:

a) Types of disasters frequently occurring: Statistics and assessment of intensity, frequency, and time of occurrence.

b) Affected areas, sectors, and high-risk zones impacted by disasters;

c) Statistics of losses caused by disasters in the locality;

d) Assessment of current disaster prevention and control work at the district level as stipulated in Article 13 of this Circular.

5. Contents and measures for disaster prevention and control as stipulated in Article 14 of this Circular.

6. Preparation of materials, equipment, facilities, and essential supplies for disaster prevention and control activities: Based on the approved annual emergency response plan of the district to prepare, including quantity; agencies and units assigned the preparation task; storage locations to be ready for mobilization and use when disasters occur.

7. Incorporate disaster prevention and control contents into socio-economic development planning according to the guidance of the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

8. Propose resource needs and implementation schedules as stipulated in Article 15 of this Circular.

9. Organizational implementation responsibilities as stipulated in Article 16 of this Circular.

1. Characteristics of population and socio-economic conditions:

a) Demographic characteristics include total population, density, distribution of residents, especially vulnerable groups, ethnic minorities, poverty rate, near-poverty rate, number of households in high-risk areas requiring relocation; housing characteristics (permanent, semi-permanent, unstable, simple) and distribution by commune administrative unit; education, health, cultural levels, ethnic characteristics, customs;

b) Socio-economic characteristics include major industries affected by disasters (agriculture, forestry, fisheries, industry, trade, tourism, and services); socio-economic development orientation of the locality.

2. Infrastructure characteristics:

General statistics and evaluation of main infrastructure under management, including: Transportation and irrigation systems; power grid, information and communication network; drainage, clean water supply, environmental treatment systems; school, hospital, health center systems and other infrastructure.

1. Command system for disaster prevention and control and search and rescue operations, including: Establishing and improving the District-level Disaster Prevention and Control and Search and Rescue Command Board; developing response plans for disasters, guiding and directing documents.

2. Forces, means, materials, equipment, and essential supplies for disaster prevention and control: Quantity statistics; agencies and units mobilizing and storing; storage locations; quality and usage period.

3. Information and communication on disaster prevention and control

Evaluate the current status of the information and communication system, disaster warning system both general and specific at the local level; methods of information dissemination and propaganda on disaster prevention and control work.

4. Community capacity and awareness in disaster prevention and control

General assessment of community awareness and skills, and training activities on disaster prevention and control at the local level.

5. Current status of disaster prevention and control facilities in the locality: Inventory and assess the capacity, degree, and resistance capability of disaster prevention and control facilities in the area.

6. Financial resources to implement disaster prevention and control work at the local level, either directly or indirectly (through integrated content), including: Regular budget, development investment budget, state budget reserve, Financial Reserve Fund, ODA capital, international organization support capital, Disaster Prevention and Control Fund, and other lawful sources.

1. Contents and measures for disaster prevention and control suitable for each type of disaster and the risk level commonly occurring in the area, paying attention to vulnerable groups: Building local disaster prevention and control works according to classification levels; organizing information dissemination and propaganda to enhance community awareness about disaster prevention and control; organizing identification of dangerous areas caused by various types of disasters within the area; developing response plans for specific types of disasters commonly encountered in the area at different risk levels; developing annual plans for organizing regular disaster prevention and control work; developing training, instruction, and drill plans for disaster prevention and control skills.

2. Basic measures for disaster prevention and control at the district level detailed in Appendix IV issued with this Circular.

1. List of disaster prevention and control projects according to classification for the annual and five-year plans: Project name, location, estimated total investment, expected implementation time, annual funding allocation.

2. Human and financial resource needs annually and over five years to implement tasks: Training to enhance community awareness on disaster prevention and control; surveying and statistics to identify dangerous areas caused by various types of disasters within the area; developing response plans for specific types of disasters commonly encountered in the area; funds for purchasing specialized equipment for command and control activities in disaster prevention and control.

Determining the contents of specific tasks and responsibilities of organizations and individuals in implementing and monitoring the implementation of the district-level disaster prevention and control plan.

1. Content of organizing the implementation of specific tasks and progress in the disaster prevention and control plan; resources ensuring the implementation of assigned tasks in the disaster prevention and control plan.

2. Developing annual plans to achieve the goals set out in the five-year plan; reviewing, evaluating, and adjusting the five-year disaster prevention and control plan.

3. Implementing, supervising, and evaluating the execution of the disaster prevention and control plan of the locality; compiling, reporting, and supervising the process of implementing the annual and five-year plans.

Section 3
COMMUNITY DISASTER PREVENTION AND CONTROL PLAN

1. Legal bases for drafting the plan: Law on Disaster Prevention and Control; Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Provisions of the Law on Disaster Prevention and Control and the Law on Dike Management; Water Resources Law; the district-level disaster prevention and control plan; guiding documents of the Law and related documents.

2. Objectives and requirements: Consistent with the district-level disaster prevention and control plan; the resolution of the Commune People's Council; actual conditions and resources at the commune level.

3. Natural, population, socio-economic, and infrastructure characteristics within the management scope as prescribed in Article 18 of this Circular.

a) Natural characteristics: Geographic location; topography, geology; meteorology, hydrology, marine conditions;

b) Population, socio-economic, and infrastructure characteristics within the management scope as prescribed in Article 18 of this Circular.

4. Assessment of the current status of disaster prevention and control work at the commune level as stipulated in Article 19 of this Circular.

5. Contents and measures for disaster prevention and control as prescribed in Article 20 of this Circular.

6. Preparation of materials, equipment, facilities, and essential supplies for disaster prevention and control activities: Based on the annual disaster response plan approved at the commune level to prepare, including quantities of materials and equipment; agencies and units assigned the task of preparation; storage locations and contracted units ready for mobilization and use when disasters occur.

7. Proposing resource needs and determining the annual and five-year progress for implementing the local disaster prevention and control plan: Based on the approved disaster prevention and control plan, disaster situation, material reserves, and allocated resources to determine support needs and the annual implementation schedule of the plan.

8. Determining responsibilities for organizing implementation as stipulated in Article 21 of this Circular.

1. Characteristics of population and socio-economic conditions:

a) Demographic characteristics including total population, density, distribution of residents, vulnerable groups, ethnic minorities, poverty rate, near-poor households, number of households in high-risk areas requiring relocation; housing characteristics (permanent, semi-permanent, poorly constructed, simple); education, culture, health levels; ethnic characteristics, customs;

b) Economic and social characteristics of major industries affected by disasters (agriculture, forestry, aquaculture, industry, trade, tourism, and services), orientation for socio-economic development of the locality.

2. Infrastructure characteristics: Statistics and assessment of main infrastructure within the management scope of transportation and water resources; power grid, information and communication systems; drainage, clean water supply, environmental treatment systems; school and health station systems and other infrastructure.

1. Command system for disaster prevention and control and search and rescue: Includes establishment and improvement of the commune-level disaster prevention and control and search and rescue command board; establishment and improvement of the commune-level disaster prevention and control emergency force.

2. Necessary forces, means, materials, equipment, and essential supplies for disaster prevention and control: Statistics on quantities; agencies and units mobilizing and storing; storage locations.

3. Information and communication on disaster prevention and control

Evaluate the current status of the information and communication system, disaster warning system both general and specific at the local level; methods of information dissemination and propaganda on disaster prevention and control work.

4. Community capacity and awareness in disaster prevention and control

General assessment of community awareness and skills, and training activities on disaster prevention and control at the local level.

1. Organize information dissemination to enhance community awareness about disaster prevention and control

Organizing information dissemination and propaganda to enhance community awareness about disaster prevention and control, including: issuing disaster prevention and control news; disseminating materials to the public and community; issuing warning news and guidance news on disaster prevention and control skills in the managed area.

2. Developing response plans for different levels of disaster risk and specific types of disasters: Based on the disaster situation and trends in the locality, human resources, materials, and equipment for disaster prevention and control, developing response plans.

3. Establishing a standing organization to update information on disaster developments.

Organizing duty shifts for disaster prevention and control according to the regulations of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development regarding working hours and rest periods for workers engaged in special tasks in the field of disaster prevention and control.

4. Identifying dangerous areas within the managed territory: Based on the disaster situation in the locality, especially historical disasters and geographical and geological characteristics of the managed area to identify dangerous areas.

5. Preparing evacuation sites: Based on the actual situation in the locality, the location of dangerous areas, determining the number of households needing evacuation, evacuation capacity to select sites, develop plans, and prepare for evacuation when required.

6. Organizing training, drills, and exercises on disaster prevention and control skills, implementing projects to enhance community awareness on disaster risk management based on community involvement, including: organizing training, drills, and exercises on disaster prevention and control skills according to guidelines; organizing training on knowledge and skills for disaster response; organizing drills on disaster response according to approved plans; organizing training to enhance community awareness and community-based disaster risk management.

The Commune People's Committee determines the contents of specific tasks to organize the implementation of the disaster prevention and control plan; organizes review and adjustment of the five-year disaster prevention and control plan; prepares annual implementation plans to achieve the goals set out in the five-year plan; determines specific responsibilities of members of the commune-level disaster prevention and control and search and rescue command board, relevant organizations, and individuals to implement tasks according to the commune-level disaster prevention and control plan.

Chapter III
IMPLEMENTATION

Article 22. Responsibilities and Financial Sources for Building and Updating Disaster Prevention and Control Plans at Various Levels in Local Areas

1. Provincial People's Committee:

a) Direct the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to take the lead and coordinate with relevant departments and units to organize the implementation of: Collecting, analyzing data, drafting, advising on the preparation for the provincial People's Committee to approve the five-year disaster prevention and control plan and the annual implementation plan; taking the lead and coordinating with relevant units to build disaster risk maps for the locality and describe the level of disaster risk for each specific type of disaster.

b) The provincial People's Committee directs other departments and agencies according to their functions and responsibilities to coordinate with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to build and review, propose adjustments to the disaster prevention and control plan for the locality.

a) Direct the specialized department responsible for state management of disaster prevention and control: Taking the lead and coordinating with related departments and units to organize the implementation of collecting, analyzing data, drafting, advising on the preparation for the district People's Committee to approve the five-year disaster prevention and control plan and the annual implementation plan; taking the lead and coordinating with related departments and units to develop response plans for specific types of disasters commonly encountered in the area; urging and inspecting the development of village-level disaster prevention and control plans within its jurisdiction; developing an annual plan for organizing regular disaster prevention and control work; leading the identification of hazardous areas caused by various types of disasters in the area; coordinating with the Military Command Board at the district level and related departments and units to develop training plans for disaster prevention and control skills.

b) Direct related departments, units according to their functions and responsibilities to coordinate with the specialized department responsible for state management of disaster prevention and control in building, implementing, and updating the disaster prevention and control plan for the locality.

a) Direct civil servants responsible for state management of disaster prevention and control: Taking the lead and coordinating with related organizations and individuals to implement data collection, analysis, draft planning, advise on the preparation for the commune People's Committee to approve the five-year disaster prevention and control plan and the annual implementation plan; coordinating with financial and accounting civil servants to advise and propose resource and funding needs to implement the plan.

b) Direct civil servants and other agencies according to their functions and responsibilities to coordinate in building and updating, adjusting the disaster prevention and control plan for the locality.

4. During the process of building, updating, and adjusting disaster prevention and control plans at various levels in local areas, the agency assigned the main responsibility may hire consultants with sufficient capacity to support implementation.

5. Disaster prevention and control plans at various levels in local areas are built and approved in cycles of five years corresponding to economic and social development plans and are updated and adjusted annually.

6. Financial sources for building and reviewing disaster prevention and control plans at various levels in local areas include the State budget, provincial disaster prevention and control fund, and other lawful financial sources.

Article 23. Report on the Results of Implementing the Plan for Preventing and Combating Natural Disasters

1. After the Prevention and Combating Natural Disasters Plans at all levels have been approved, People's Committees at all levels shall report to the higher-level People's Committee and the Steering Board for Prevention and Combating Natural Disasters and Search and Rescue. The provincial People's Committee shall report the prevention and combating natural disasters plan to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of National Defense for consolidation and guidance.

2. People's Committees at all levels shall be responsible for organizing the implementation and reporting on the results of implementing the annual prevention and combating natural disasters plan of their locality. The contents of the reports on the results of implementing the prevention and combating natural disasters plans at all levels include:

a) The situation and impact of natural disasters in the locality;

b) The leadership and implementation of the prevention and combating natural disasters plan in the locality;

c) The results and progress of specific tasks under the prevention and combating natural disasters plan in the locality; the list of tasks, programs, projects, and initiatives for preventing and combating natural disasters in the locality detailed in Appendix V issued together with this Circular;

d) Evaluation of advantages, difficulties, and causes;

đ) Proposals and recommendations.

Time for finalizing data for reporting and deadline for submitting reports:

a) The time for finalizing data for periodic annual reporting runs from December 15 of the year prior to the reporting year to December 14 of the reporting year;

b) The deadline for provincial and centrally-run city People's Committees to submit written reports to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the National Steering Board for Prevention and Combating Natural Disasters is no later than December 25 of the reporting year;

c) The provincial People's Committee shall determine the deadlines for the submission of reports by district and commune People's Committees based on specific circumstances and the requirements of the report.

Article 24. Transitional Provisions

Prevention and Combating Natural Disasters Plans at all levels in localities that were approved before the effective date of this Circular shall continue to be implemented according to the approved plans and annually updated and supplemented with relevant contents as stipulated in this Circular.

Article 25. Effective Date

1. This Circular takes effect from July 25, 2021.

2. During the implementation process, if there are any issues, organizations and individuals shall promptly provide information to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for review and amendment./.