Decree No. 117/2008/NĐ-CP on Civil Defense

DECREE

On Civil Defense

______

 THE GOVERNMENT

Pursuant to the Law on Organization of the Government dated December 25, 2001;

Based on the Law on National Defense dated June 14, 2005;

Upon the proposal of the Minister of National Defense,

DECREE:

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Decree stipulates tasks; investment guarantee mechanisms; organization and training; prevention and mitigation of consequences of high-tech weapons, nuclear weapons, chemical weapons, biological weapons (collectively referred to as large-scale destructive weapons) and disasters caused by natural or human factors; responsibilities of Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, agencies under the Government, Provincial People's Committees, centrally governed cities (hereinafter collectively referred to as provincial level), District People's Committees, town People's Committees, centrally governed city districts (hereinafter collectively referred to as district level), Commune People's Committees, Ward People's Committees, Town People's Committees (hereinafter collectively referred to as commune level), political organizations, socio-political organizations, economic organizations (hereinafter collectively referred to as agencies and organizations) in civil defense.

Article 2. Applicability

This Decree applies to agencies, organizations, and individuals who are Vietnamese citizens; agencies, organizations, and individuals who are foreigners residing and operating within the territory of Vietnam.

In cases where international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a member have provisions, such treaty provisions shall be applied.

Article 3. Explanation of Terms

In this Decree, the following terms are understood as follows:

1. Civil Defense: is a component of the national defense system, comprising proactive measures to prevent and combat war or disasters caused by nature or humans, dangerous epidemics; implementing prevention, combating, and mitigating disaster consequences, protecting the people, safeguarding the activities of agencies and organizations, and the national economy.

2. Disaster: refers to disturbances caused by nature, dangerous epidemics, or humans, or resulting from the aftermath of war, causing serious losses in terms of human lives, property, and the natural environment.

Article 4. Principles and Guidelines for Civil Defense Activities

1. Compliance with national defense and security activities as prescribed by law.

2. Civil defense operates under the leadership and direction of the Party, unified management by the Government, directly led and directed by the party committees, authorities at all levels, and heads of agencies and organizations; mobilizing the comprehensive strength of the entire political system and the whole people.

3. Civil defense is organized from the central to local and grassroots levels and according to territorial regions. Heads of agencies and organizations are responsible for organizing and implementing civil defense.

4. Implementing the principle of prevention as the main focus; leveraging the role of local forces, local means, local command, and local logistics; actively, proactively, and promptly preventing and mitigating consequences.

Article 5. State Management of Civil Defense

1. Content of state management:

a) Issuing and implementing legal documents on civil defense;

b) Establishing planning and directing the implementation of civil defense tasks;

c) Propaganda and dissemination of state laws, local regulations, and knowledge about civil defense to the entire population;

d) Directing and managing civil defense operations;

d) Specifying and guiding the implementation of support work for civil defense;

e) Inspecting, supervising, summarizing, concluding, rewarding, and handling violations related to civil defense.

2. Responsibilities of state management:

a) The Government uniformly manages state affairs concerning civil defense;

b) The Ministry of National Defense takes the lead in assisting the Government in performing state management functions regarding civil defense within its assigned scope nationwide;

c) Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and agencies under the Government, within their respective duties and powers, are responsible before the Government for performing state management functions regarding civil defense within their assigned scope nationwide;

d) People's Committees at all levels within their respective functions and powers manage state affairs concerning civil defense locally.

Article 6. Civil Defense Directive

1. The Prime Minister directs civil defense activities throughout the country.

2. The Minister of National Defense assists the Prime Minister in directing civil defense activities within the assigned fields.

The Military Region Commander assists the Minister of National Defense in directing and guiding civil defense activities within the assigned fields in localities under the Military Region's jurisdiction.

Provincial, district-level military agencies, and village-level Military Command Boards advise the same-level People's Committees on civil defense work according to the directives of the Ministry of National Defense and the Military Region Command.

3. Ministers of Ministries, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, and agencies under the Government direct and manage civil defense activities for their respective agencies and units, and guide the implementation of civil defense within their sectors nationwide according to the division of labor by the Prime Minister.

4. Chairpersons of People's Committees at all levels, within their duties and authorities, direct and organize the implementation of civil defense activities in their localities in accordance with the law.

Article 7. Permanent Agencies for Civil Defense

1. Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and agencies under the Government have permanent agencies responsible for implementing civil defense tasks within their assigned fields as stipulated by law. Permanent civil defense agencies at all levels operate on a part-time basis. The organizational structure, duties, powers, and operational regulations of permanent agencies are decided by the Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, and agencies under the Government.

2. The Ministry of National Defense and Military Region Commands organize permanent agencies to assist the Prime Minister, the Minister of National Defense, and the Military Region Commanders in overseeing and guiding civil defense activities within their assigned fields. Permanent civil defense agencies are located at the Ministry of National Defense and Military Region Commands. The Ministry of National Defense decides on the establishment, organizational structure, duties, powers, and operational regulations of permanent civil defense agencies at the Ministry of National Defense and Military Region Commands.

3. All-level People's Committees have permanent agencies to assist the same-level People's Committee Chairpersons in directing and organizing the implementation of civil defense tasks. Provincial and district-level permanent civil defense agencies are located at local military agencies or headquarters of relevant departments. Village-level permanent civil defense agencies are located at village-level People's Committee headquarters.

4. The Chairpersons of provincial and district-level People's Committees decide on the establishment, organizational structure, duties, and powers of the same-level permanent civil defense agencies. The Chairperson of the district-level People's Committee decides on the establishment, organizational structure, duties, and powers of village-level permanent civil defense agencies.

5. Permanent civil defense agencies at all levels may use their own agency seals to handle matters related to civil defense.

Chapter II

ORGANIZATION, TRAINING, AND CIVIL DEFENSE ACTIVITIES

Section 1

CIVIL DEFENSE ORGANIZATION

Article 8. Organization of Civil Defense Forces

1. Civil defense forces consist of core forces and broad forces.

a) Core forces include:

- Village-level militia, public security, and self-defense forces of organizations;

- Specialized or part-time civil defense forces of the People's Army;

- Specialized or part-time civil defense forces of Ministries and sectors.

b) Broad forces: participation of the entire population.

2. Organization of core civil defense forces at various levels.

a) Specialized or part-time forces of Ministries and sectors tasked with civil defense within their assigned fields;

b) Forces of regional centers and specialized main forces performing civil defense tasks in each region and field;

c) At the provincial and district levels: organization of specialized or part-time teams performing civil defense tasks in specific fields. The specific organization of these teams is regulated by the Minister of National Defense and relevant Ministers. Civil defense teams are organized within provincial and district-level agencies and organizations according to their functions, tasks, and assigned fields;

d) At the village level and in organizations: organization of mobile teams for prevention, mitigation, and aftermath response; communication and alarm teams; rescue and casualty evacuation teams; civilian evacuation and dispersion protection teams; logistics and technical support teams; environmental sanitation teams. Civil defense teams are carried out by village-level militia, self-defense, and public security forces. The village-level Military Command Board, Public Security Board, and organization-level Military Command Board are responsible for building, training, managing, and commanding these teams.

Article 9. Tasks of the Civil Defense Force

1. Propaganda and training on civil defense knowledge.

2. Forecasting potential risks, scale, and extent of damage that may occur in disaster-prone areas. Timely announcement and issuance of warning orders when disasters happen.

3. Implement necessary measures when disasters occur, specifically:

a) Evacuating civilians, dispersing state and civilian assets to safe areas; conducting camouflage and shielding measures; ensuring personal protective equipment, food, drinking water, and essential living supplies for people in disaster-stricken areas;

b) Observing, scouting, promptly identifying, marking, isolating, decontaminating, and disinfecting radioactive, biological, and chemical hazardous areas for people and equipment;

c) Conducting rescue operations, search and rescue, and restoring public activities;

d) Providing initial medical care and transferring victims to the nearest healthcare facilities;

đ) Supplying fuel, food, medicine, and other necessary materials to disaster-affected areas, isolated regions, and restoring normal operations for forces in disaster-stricken areas;

e) Ensuring security, preventing epidemics, and maintaining environmental hygiene in disaster-affected areas.

Article 10. Equipment and Supplies for the Civil Defense Force

1. The Ministry of National Defense shall take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors to establish a list of types of equipment, supplies, devices, and materials required for civil defense activities within their assigned fields according to the Prime Minister's decision; simultaneously guiding production, storage, and usage for civil defense training, exercises, and during emergencies.

2. At all levels, People's Committees, heads of agencies, and organizations must ensure necessary equipment, supplies, devices, and materials for the Civil Defense Force to implement protective measures for the people and national economy. In cases of emergency implementation, the Chairman of the People's Committee shall mobilize local equipment, devices, and materials to prevent, combat, and mitigate disaster consequences according to the law.

Article 11. Planning the Civil Defense Engineering System

1. Constructing the civil defense engineering system at each level during wartime must be integrated with the military strategy planning of the defensive region. The review and approval of planning and plans for civil defense works shall be carried out according to Article 14 of Decree No. 152/2007/NĐ-CP dated October 10, 2007, of the Government on the defensive region.

2. Planning the civil defense engineering system outside the defense sector shall be proposed by ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and government agencies to the Prime Minister for decision.

3. Combining economic and social development with the construction of civil defense works; utilizing caves, terrain features, semi-underground, and underground structures as shelters for the people and organizations in case of potential disasters or war.

4. The State has policies to encourage domestic and foreign investors to build underground works to ensure dual-use functionality.

Article 12. Construction of research forecasting, warning, and alarm systems

Strengthening and building research centers, observation stations, monitoring stations for earthquakes, meteorology, tsunami forecasts, environmental protection, and civil air defense at central, regional, and local levels to form a nationwide network of information forecasting, warning, and alarm systems.

Article 13. Construction of facilities for civil defense

1. Construct facilities to prevent enemy attacks with high-tech weapons and large-scale destructive weapons as specified by the Minister of National Defense.

2. Construct civil defense facilities outside the defense sector as specified by the Ministers of relevant ministries, heads of agencies equivalent to ministries, and government agencies.

Section 2

TRAINING IN CIVIL DEFENSE

Article 14. Propaganda, education, training, and drills.

1. From central to local authorities shall use mass media and other means to promote awareness, responsibility, and basic knowledge about civil defense among the entire population.

2. Training, drills, and dissemination of measures to prevent, avoid, and mitigate the consequences of high-tech weapons, large-scale destructive weapons, and other disasters for core forces and broad forces in civil defense shall be organized annually according to guidelines from the Ministry of National Defense.

3. Based on their functions and tasks, ministries and sectors shall take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense to determine the content, organization, and methods of civil defense training in the annual civil defense training program.

4. Civil defense drills at each locality, agency, and organization shall be organized by the Chairperson of the People's Committee of the locality or the head of the agency or organization under the direct guidance of higher-level authorities.

Article 15. Duration of civil defense training

1. The duration of annual civil defense training for core forces (excluding dedicated civil defense forces of the Ministry of National Defense and other ministries and sectors) is two days per year within the total time allocated for military or specialized training as prescribed by law.

2. For students in academies, political schools, administrative schools, and mass organizations at various levels, the duration of civil defense training is eight class hours per year and is implemented within the national defense and security education curriculum of each academic year.

3. Training on civil defense for cadres, party members, and civil servants is carried out within the cadre training program on national defense and security as prescribed by law.

Section 3

CIVIL DEFENSE ACTIVITIES

Article 16. Development of civil defense plans

1. Agencies, organizations, and localities shall proactively develop civil defense plans; these plans shall be adjusted annually and during each period to suit the actual situation of the agency, organization, or locality.

2. The Ministry of National Defense and related ministries and sectors shall guide the development of civil defense plans within their assigned areas.

Article 17. Measures to reduce disaster consequences

1. Develop and implement plans for planting upstream forests, coastal buffer zones, restoring mangrove forests, acid sulfate forests, and ecological forests; implement forest fire prevention and control measures as directed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

2. Improve the organizational system for flood and storm prevention at all levels and sectors; strengthen the forecast, notification, warning, and alarm systems to ensure smooth information flow to people in dangerous areas on land and at sea.

3. Mountainous, border, coastal, and island regions shall closely cooperate with main force troops, local troops, border guards, navy, coast guard, police, and public security forces stationed in the area to organize personnel and equipment, ready to search, rescue, and assist people and vessels in distress. Production and operational vessels at sea must comply with inspection regulations and be equipped with civil defense equipment to ensure safety in case of disasters.

4. Implement inspection, detection, and timely handling of disaster risks. Areas frequently flooded, affected by flash floods, erosion by seawater, earthquakes, and forest fires must have rescue and relief plans as directed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

5. Ministries, sectors, localities, agencies, and organizations shall have plans to protect chemical, nuclear, radioactive, and hazardous biological agent facilities; measures to respond to emergencies, handle toxic chemical leaks, radioactive contamination, explosions, water treatment, waste disposal, and environmental protection as directed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and other relevant ministries and sectors as prescribed by law.

6. Prepare plans to prevent and control epidemics, stockpile medicines, and be ready to provide assistance to the people when disasters caused by dangerous diseases occur as directed by the Ministry of Health.

Article 18. Disaster Response Mechanism

1. The Ministry of National Defense shall direct the Military Region Command Departments and local military authorities at all levels to take the lead in advising People's Committees at the same level on implementing measures to prevent, combat, and mitigate consequences caused by war.

2. Ministries and sectors shall direct their vertical agencies to take the lead in advising People's Committees at the same level on implementing measures to prevent, combat, and mitigate disaster consequences within their assigned areas of responsibility.

3. Chairpersons of People's Committees at all levels shall direct and implement civil defense measures in their localities. In cases where the locality's capacity is exceeded, they shall report upwards through the civil defense headquarters.

4. Heads of agencies and organizations under provincial and district levels shall directly direct and manage forces under their authority to perform civil defense tasks at their agencies and organizations, and be ready to undertake tasks elsewhere upon orders from the Chairperson of the People's Committee at the same level. The Chairperson of the Provincial People's Committee may mobilize forces, means, and materials of central agencies stationed in the area after reaching agreement with the competent ministry or sector.

Article 19. Reception and Processing of Information, Notifications, and Alarms

1. Information related to disaster risks or occurrences shall be reported to the civil defense headquarters at the same level for verification and processing.

2. Upon receiving information related to disaster risks or occurrences, ministries, sectors, and People's Committees at all levels shall have the responsibility to inform subordinate agencies and organizations, the public, and report to higher-level civil defense headquarters according to regulations.

3. Mass media outlets from central to local levels shall have the responsibility to promptly disseminate news related to civil defense.

Article 20. Actions of Ministries, Sectors, and People's Committees at All Levels When There Is a Disaster

When there is a warning, notification, or alarm regarding disaster risks or occurrences, heads of ministries, sectors, and People's Committees at all levels shall have the responsibility to:

1. Organize and maintain the operation of civil defense headquarters at various levels as decided by the competent authority as stipulated in Article 7 of this Decree.

2. Direct the implementation of emergency measures to protect the people, protect agencies and organizations, economic and social activities, national defense, and security, inspect disaster prevention and mitigation works to put them into use when necessary.

3. Command and control forces, means, equipment, and specialized materials to handle situations according to the civil defense plan.

4. Command and control forces under their authority to mitigate disaster consequences.

5. Strictly comply with special measures when there is an emergency situation as prescribed by current laws.

Article 21. Measures to Protect the People

1. Proactively prevent and prepare protective equipment, disperse, and evacuate the people to safe areas with less danger.

2. Conduct rescue operations, search for people and means that have been affected.

3. Promptly provide relief and ensure living conditions, food, and hygiene for the people in regions cut off due to disasters.

4. Warn unauthorized persons and means from entering disaster-affected areas.

5. Protect public security and order in disaster-affected areas and evacuation sites.

6. Decontamination, radiation decontamination, sterilization, environmental sanitation restoration, disease prevention, stabilizing people's lives, restoring and developing production.

7. Actions of the people:

a) Comply with announcements, alarms, and follow the guidance of civil defense authorities and civil defense forces;

b) Personal protective means and equipment prepared in advance shall be used upon alarm or guidance from civil defense forces;

c) Self-rescue or assist others in initial rescue or decontamination.

d) Strictly comply with evacuation, hiding, and only leave positions upon orders or safety signals from authorities or persons with jurisdiction.

8. Strictly comply with special measures when there is an emergency situation as prescribed by current laws.

Article 22. Measures to protect agencies, organizations, and the national economy

1. Direct and manage the implementation of civil defense measures according to plans and directives from the civil defense authority at the same level.

2. Mobilize forces and means to evacuate and disperse officials, civil servants, employees, and workers, as well as material assets of agencies and organizations to safe areas with less danger; implement camouflage, shielding measures to ensure security and public order at the places of residence and work of agencies and organizations in evacuation areas.

3. Mitigate consequences, quickly restore production and work.

4. Actions of civilian defense forces:

a) Deploy and install safety equipment for shelters to put into use; distribute personal protective equipment.

b) Announce warnings, guide officials, civil servants, employees to comply with regulations on sheltering and using preventive facilities;

c) Organize and guide officials, civil servants, employees, and workers to evacuate upon orders; firefighting, rescue, search and rescue, decontamination, radiation decontamination, and disinfection forces are ready to perform their duties.

d) Organize medical treatment and burial of deceased persons and animals; disinfect, decontaminate, and control outbreaks; guide officials, civil servants, employees, and workers to implement epidemic prevention measures.

đ) Implement measures to ensure public security, food safety, environmental protection, detect, mark, isolate, decontaminate, radiation decontamination, and disinfection for people and means of transport in areas contaminated by radiation, biological, and chemical hazards, isolating areas affected by disasters.

5. Strictly comply with special measures when there is an emergency situation as prescribed by current laws.

Chapter III

ENSURING CIVIL DEFENSE ACTIVITIES

Article 23. Mechanism for mobilizing means, equipment, and materials

1. Mobilization through purchase requisition or requisition of means, equipment, and materials from organizations and individuals to implement civilian defense measures shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Law on Purchase Requisition and Requisition of Property.

2. Authority to decide on purchase requisition or requisition of property to implement civilian defense measures when not reaching the level of declaring a state of war shall be implemented in accordance with Article 24 of the Law on Purchase Requisition and Requisition of Property.

Article 24. Treatment for persons mobilized for training and performing civilian defense tasks.

1. Persons who do not receive salary from the State budget during the period they are mobilized for training and performing civilian defense tasks according to the decision of the competent authority shall enjoy the following benefits:

a) Receive labor day allowance according to the level specified by the People's Committee of the province. For general laborers, the minimum allowance rate is 0.04 times the minimum wage decided by the Government at that time (referred to as the minimum wage); for laborers directly related to radioactive substances, biological agents, and toxic chemicals, the minimum allowance rate is 0.1 times the minimum wage; if training and performing tasks at night from 10 PM to 6 AM the next morning, it will be counted double; performing tasks in dangerous and harmful environments will be compensated on-site according to the provisions of the law.

b) When training and performing civilian defense tasks far from their place of residence without conditions to go back and forth daily, they will be provided with accommodation and meals, transportation means, or travel expenses for a round trip, and meal allowances according to the level specified by the People's Committee of the province.

c) The entity that mobilizes shall ensure payment.

2. Persons receiving salary from the State budget, during the period they are mobilized for training and performing civilian defense tasks according to the decision of the competent authority, shall continue to receive their full salary and welfare benefits, including travel allowances and transportation costs, when working in hazardous environments and areas with regional allowances, according to current regulations. In cases where contract workers temporarily suspend their labor contracts during participation in training and performing civilian defense tasks, they do not have to pay social insurance.

The costs for the above items shall be included in the regular operating budget of the agency.

3. Cadres and self-defense militia soldiers, village police officers mobilized for training and performing civilian defense tasks according to the decision of the competent authority shall enjoy benefits as prescribed by law.

Article 25. Regulations and policies for civilian defense forces suffering from illness, accidents, and death.

1. Members of the civilian defense force who fall ill or suffer accidents under the following circumstances shall be entitled to benefits for illness and work-related accidents:

a) Falling ill or suffering accidents during training or performing duties at their workplace, including within and outside regular working hours as decided by the competent authority;

b) Falling ill or suffering accidents on the way to or from their residence to the training location or duty station;

c) In cases where illness or accidents result from alcohol intoxication or drug use, such individuals shall not be entitled to the benefits stipulated in Clause 1 of this Article.

2. Responsibilities of direct commanders and agencies or organizations issuing mobilization decisions when accidents occur while performing civil defense duties:

a) Provide immediate first aid on-site for those injured, then promptly transfer them to the nearest medical facility;

b) A report must be made, detailing the accident's progression, the victim's injuries, the extent of damage, the cause of the accident, and signed by representatives of the collective of officers and staff participating in training or duty. For accidents occurring on the way to or from the destination, the report must also bear the seal and signature of a representative of the local government authority where the accident occurred.

3. Regulations and policies for those suffering from illness or accidents:

a) Illness: members of the civilian defense force who fall ill during training or duty, if they have not participated in health insurance, shall be reimbursed for medical examination and treatment costs; if they die, they shall be entitled to survivor's pension and funeral expenses according to the standards for those who have participated in social insurance;

b) Accident:

- Reimbursement for medical expenses incurred during initial emergency care and treatment until stable recovery and discharge;

- After treatment, the competent authority shall refer them for labor capacity assessment at the Medical Examination Board as prescribed by law;

- If an individual who has not participated in social insurance suffers a reduction in labor capacity of 5% or more, they shall be entitled to a one-time allowance, the amount of which shall be guided by the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs. If the individual has participated in social insurance, they shall be entitled to allowances as prescribed by the law on social insurance;

- Individuals who lose one or more body parts or functions, manifesting in various disabilities that reduce their ability to function, making labor, daily life, and study difficult, shall be entitled to preferential benefits as prescribed by law for persons with disabilities;

c) In cases of death, including during initial treatment, if the deceased had not participated in social insurance, the person directly responsible for burial shall receive funeral expenses equivalent to eight months' minimum wage, and the family shall receive a one-time allowance equivalent to five months' minimum wage. If the deceased had participated in social insurance, the provisions of the law on social insurance shall apply.

4. The local budget shall cover the costs of benefits for illness and accidents. For those who have participated in health insurance, medical examination and treatment costs shall be covered by the health insurance fund; for those who have participated in social insurance, the lump-sum or monthly allowances and survivor's pension shall be covered by the social insurance fund.

5. Civilian militia members performing civilian defense duties as decided by the competent authority who suffer accidents shall be entitled to benefits as prescribed by the law on civilian militia.

Article 26. Treatment and policies for civilian defense forces that are injured or sacrificed

Persons participating in civilian defense forces performing tasks as prescribed in Article 8 of this Decree who bravely rescue people and state and public property shall be considered to enjoy preferential treatment regimes and policies as stipulated by law if they are injured or sacrificed.

Article 27. Compensation for losses of means, equipment, materials requisitioned for civilian defense tasks

1. The compensation for losses of means, equipment, and materials requisitioned shall be implemented according to Articles 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, and 39 of the Law on Requisition and Expropriation of Property.

2. The funding to ensure payment for compensating losses of requisitioned means, equipment, and materials shall be implemented according to Article 40 of the Law on Requisition and Expropriation of Property.

Article 28. Sources of budget to ensure civilian defense

1. The annual budget to ensure civilian defense at ministries, agencies equivalent to ministries, government agencies, and other organizations at the central level shall be included in the state budget according to the provisions of the State Budget Law.

2. The annual budget for civilian defense of localities shall be ensured from the local budget.

3. The budget to ensure civilian defense at enterprises shall be included in production and business management costs.

Article 29. Contents of budget expenditure for civilian defense work

1. Organizing forces and training in civilian defense.

2. Compensating losses of means, equipment, and materials requisitioned for training, drills, inspections, and civilian defense tasks.

3. Means, equipment, and materials purchased for civilian defense tasks.

4. Ensuring daily allowances, food expenses; ensuring sickness, accident, injury, or death benefits for those mobilized for training and performing civilian defense tasks as stipulated by law.

5. Ensuring material, documents, and training manuals for education and training in civilian defense.

6. Civilian defense drills at localities, agencies, and organizations.

7. Building infrastructure, shelters, reception stations, warehouses for storing technical equipment, fuel, food, medicine, and drinking water to serve civilian defense tasks.

8. Building key civilian defense works.

9. Inspecting, checking, summarizing, concluding, and rewarding civilian defense activities.

10. Guiding procurement of means, materials, and construction of civilian defense works under the direction of the Ministry of National Defense in collaboration with the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Finance, and related agencies.

Chapter IV

RESPONSIBILITY FOR IMPLEMENTATION

Article 30. Responsibilities of Ministries, Sectors, Agencies, and Organizations at the Central Level

1. The Ministry of National Defense

a) Taking the lead and coordinating with the Ministry of Planning and Investment and relevant ministries and sectors to assist the Prime Minister in developing plans and directing the implementation of civilian defense tasks within their assigned fields nationwide;

b) Taking the lead and coordinating with the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs, and relevant ministries and sectors to develop programs and contents for propaganda, education, training, drills, and knowledge enhancement in civilian defense for core forces, cadres, civil servants, students, and the general public within their assigned fields;

c) Directing military regions and local military agencies at all levels to advise provincial People's Committees on implementing civilian defense work within their assigned fields;

d) Directing the construction of civilian defense works, search and rescue operations, and disaster mitigation caused by war; directing and commanding forces under their command to perform search and rescue and disaster mitigation tasks as assigned by the Prime Minister;

đ) Taking the lead and coordinating with the Ministry of Construction and relevant ministries and sectors to review planning and construction plans for works meeting civilian defense requirements as stipulated in Articles 11, 12, and 13 of this Decree;

e) Assisting the Prime Minister in organizing inspections, summaries, conclusions, and rewards for civilian defense work within their assigned fields.

2. Ministry of Public Security

a) Coordinating with the Ministry of National Defense and relevant ministries and sectors to implement the tasks specified in points a, b, đ, and e of Clause 1 of this Article;

b) Taking the lead and coordinating with relevant ministries and sectors and local authorities to ensure political security and social order in areas affected by disasters;

c) Directing the police force to organize search and rescue operations and disaster mitigation;

d) Building, managing, and using specialized firefighting police forces according to the Fire Prevention and Fighting Law.

3. The Ministry of Health

a) Directing and guiding healthcare facilities, hospitals, research institutes, and preventive health centers to prepare medical personnel, equipment, and medicines for mobile emergency care, transportation, and treatment of victims; preventive treatment.

b) Directing subordinate agencies and organizations to prepare medical personnel, equipment, and medicines for mobile emergency care, transportation, and treatment of victims; preventive treatment, environmental sanitation, and epidemic control.

4. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

a) Taking the lead and coordinating with ministries, sectors, and localities to fully implement measures to mitigate disaster consequences as stipulated in Clauses 1, 2, 3, and 4 of Article 17 of this Decree;

b) Cooperating in building plans and ensuring food and food safety to meet civilian defense requirements.

5. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment

a) Submitting to the Government and the Prime Minister for issuance or issuing within their authority normative legal documents in the field of disaster aftermath recovery concerning the environment. Directing and coordinating the organization of inspections, identifying polluted areas in inter-provincial and inter-national regions, guiding damage assessment and organization of pollution recovery and environmental degradation;

b) Taking the lead and coordinating with the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Information and Communications, and relevant ministries and sectors to build research centers, forecasting systems, and early warning systems for natural and environmental disasters related to civilian defense.

6. The Ministry of Planning and Investment

Shall take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Finance, and relevant ministries and sectors to appraise projects in accordance with regulations to ensure the combination of economic and social development with civil defense requirements during peacetime and wartime; balance the budget for annual investment plans to ensure that ministries, sectors, and localities fulfill civil defense tasks.

7. The Ministry of Finance

a) Issue or submit to competent authorities for issuance of documents on management and use of the budget for civil defense work; coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors to ensure the budget for fulfilling civil defense tasks.

b) Direct the implementation of national reserve plans assigned by the State; timely and fully issue materials and goods to serve civil defense work when authorized by competent authorities.

8. The Ministry of Transport

a) Shall take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense, relevant ministries and sectors, and provincial People's Committees to develop and implement plans and schemes for combining the use of forces, means, equipment, and materials to perform civil defense tasks; manage road, waterway, and air search and rescue teams; in case of disaster, direct and guide localities to organize transportation teams to evacuate people and means to safe areas, provide logistics support, and transport casualties.

b) Coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to direct specialized maritime and aviation sectors in issuing permits and coordinating with foreign forces and means in search and rescue operations when disasters occur.

9. The Ministry of Construction

a) Shall take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors to issue guiding documents on construction standards for projects in accordance with civil defense requirements.

b) Direct enterprises under its authority to cooperate with localities in their jurisdictions to organize teams to mitigate disaster and war consequences.

c) Coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Planning and Investment to appraise master plans and development projects to meet civil defense requirements as stipulated in Articles 11, 12, and 13 of this Decree.

10. The Ministry of Information and Communications

a) Shall take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors to unify regulations on frequencies for continuous monitoring and emergency rescue, and build plans to ensure priority use of communication means to serve command and control in civil defense fields.

b) Coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to establish communication networks between observation stations, research centers, and civil defense agencies at all levels as stipulated in Article 12 of this Decree.

c) Direct agencies and units under the Ministry, postal and telecommunications enterprises to mobilize resources to ensure communication services for civil defense tasks; utilize mass media to conduct public education on civil defense as stipulated in Clause 1, Article 14 of this Decree.

11. The Ministry of Industry and Trade

a) Strictly manage nuclear power production, mining of hazardous chemicals, and industrial explosives to minimize disaster risks in the industrial sector; strictly manage import and export of hazardous chemicals; coordinate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment to build energy reserve plans to maintain national defense, security, economic, and social activities and serve civil defense tasks.

b) Shall take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors to direct and guide handling of explosions and collapses in facilities producing and mining nuclear power, coal, oil, chemicals, and industrial explosives.

c) Stabilize market prices and ensure essential goods for people in disaster-stricken areas and during wartime.

12. The Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs

a) Shall take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries, sectors, and provincial People's Committees to provide emergency social assistance and implement policies for those participating in civil defense tasks who fall ill, suffer accidents, injuries, or death.

b) Coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense to guide policies and benefits for civil defense forces during training, exercises, and civil defense missions;

13. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs

a) Direct agencies under the Ministry, diplomatic missions, and consular offices of Vietnam abroad to cooperate with countries and international organizations in search and rescue operations for Vietnamese individuals and means operating in international waters including maritime and aviation search and rescue zones.

b) Shall take the lead and coordinate with relevant functional ministries and sectors through diplomatic channels to request foreign authorities to assist in organizing search and rescue operations for Vietnamese individuals and means in distress; handle necessary procedures and resolve arising issues to repatriate individuals and means.

c) Coordinate and guide rescue operations for foreign individuals and means encountering disasters on Vietnamese territory.

14. Other central ministries, sectors, and organizations

a) Coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense and relevant ministries and sectors to issue and submit to competent authorities legal documents on civil defense within their assigned fields.

b) Organize propaganda and education for cadres, civil servants, public officials, and workers under their authority on the contents and measures of civil defense;

c) Direct agencies and units under their ministries and sectors to implement plans and measures for civil defense within their assigned fields; promptly organize their own forces and means to perform civil defense tasks upon orders from competent authorities.

d) Coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense to conduct inspections, reviews, and summaries of civil defense work implementation.

Article 31. Responsibilities of People's Committees at all levels

1. Issuing guiding documents on civil defense in their localities within their authority; directing the organization to thoroughly understand and implement civil defense tasks.

2. Propaganda and mobilization among cadres, civil servants, employees, and people to participate in civil defense.

3. Building and implementing plans and schemes for mobilizing forces, means, and materials from the locality and central agencies operating in the locality to perform civil defense tasks according to the directives of the higher-level civil defense steering body.

4. Directing the organization to build forces, train, and conduct drills on civil defense for subordinate forces.

5. Organizing subordinate forces to implement measures to prevent, combat, and mitigate disaster consequences, protect the people when there is war.

6. Proposing to higher-level civil defense steering bodies to mobilize forces and means from other ministries, sectors, and localities to coordinate in implementing civil defense measures when beyond their own response capacity.

7. Implementing systems and policies to ensure civil defense work.

8. Directing and implementing inspection, supervision, interim review, final evaluation, and commendation on civil defense work in the locality.

Chapter V

REWARD AND VIOLATION HANDLING

Article 32. Awards

Organizations and individuals with achievements in civil defense work shall be awarded according to State regulations.

Article 33. Handling Violations

Organizations and individuals who violate civil defense work, depending on the severity and nature of the violation, shall be disciplined, administratively handled, or criminally prosecuted according to the law.

Chapter VI

IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

Article 34. Effective Date

This Decree shall take effect fifteen days after its publication in the Official Gazette.

Article 35. Responsibility for guiding implementation

1. The Ministry of National Defense shall take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors to guide the implementation of this Decree.

2. The Ministry of National Defense shall take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance to guide the implementation of budget assurance and provision of means and materials for civil defense tasks.

3. Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies equivalent to ministries, Heads of government-affiliated agencies, Chairpersons of provincial and centrally-administered city People's Committees, and related agencies shall be responsible for enforcing this Decree./.