Decision No. 46/2006/QĐ-TTg Approving the Master Plan for Search and Rescue Activities until 2015, with a Vision to 2020

Pursuant to …;

Approves the Master Plan for Comprehensive Search and Rescue Activities until 2015, with a vision to 2020,

vision to 2020

______________________

PRIME MINISTER

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

Considering the proposal of the National Committee for Search and Rescue (report No. 430/TTr-UB dated November 8, 2004),

Pursuant to …;

Article 1. Approves the Master Plan for Comprehensive Search and Rescue Activities until 2015, with a vision to 2020, with the main contents as follows:

I. OBJECTIVES OF THE PLAN

1. Ensuring the coordination and cooperation among forces to promptly meet search and rescue requirements when incidents occur.

2. Anticipating some basic scenarios, on this basis determining the command agency, participating forces, and equipment needs for search and rescue operations.

3. Guiding investment in building material and technical infrastructure for specialized units to carry out search and rescue tasks; purchasing equipment and developing human resources for search and rescue.

II. VIEWPOINTS OF THE PLAN

1. Identifying specialized agencies at the central level and consolidating and improving the search and rescue command agencies at all levels to effectively direct and manage search and rescue activities, minimizing losses, meeting the requirements of national economic and social development, and gradually integrating internationally in the field of search and rescue.

2. Gradually supplementing material and technical infrastructure and equipment to enhance the capacity of specialized units in search and rescue.

3. Mobilizing all social resources, encouraging various economic sectors to participate in search and rescue work; developing public service models, gradually socializing in some stages and some search and rescue forces.

4. Closely combining the implementation of the search and rescue plan with economic and social development and defense-security requirements.

III. SOME BASIC SCENARIOS; DETERMINING COMMAND AGENCIES, FORCES, AND EQUIPMENT FOR RESPONSE.

1. Typhoons, low pressure causing major floods; tsunamis; flash floods in mountainous areas.

- Command agency:

Central level: The Central Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention leads, coordinating with the National Committee for Search and Rescue, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Defense, and relevant agencies;

Local level: Chairman of the People's Committee of provinces and centrally-administered cities;

- Forces participating in rescue: military, police, self-defense forces, other local forces;

- Equipment: dual-purpose search and rescue helicopters, small transport aircraft; various types of boats, amphibious vehicles; various types of emergency shelters, life jackets, life buoys.

2. Forest fire disaster.

- Command agency:

Central level: The Central Steering Committee for Forest Fire Prevention leads, coordinating with the National Committee for Search and Rescue, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and relevant agencies;

Local level: Chairman of the People's Committee of provinces and centrally-administered cities;

- Forces participating in rescue: military, police, self-defense forces, other local forces;

- Equipment: dual-purpose search and rescue helicopters, small transport aircraft, firefighting trucks, water pumps, bulldozers.

3. Large-scale high-rise building fire disaster, urban area, industrial zone, residential area.

- Command agency:

Central level: The Ministry of Public Security leads, coordinating with the National Committee for Search and Rescue and relevant agencies;

Local level: Chairman of the People's Committee of provinces and centrally-administered cities;

- Forces participating in rescue: police, military, self-defense forces, other local forces;

- Equipment: fire engines, ladder trucks, smoke extraction vehicles, escape tubes, water pumps, specialized equipment.

4. Earthquake disaster, collapse accidents of high-rise buildings, mining tunnels.

- Command agency:

Central level: The National Committee for Search and Rescue leads, coordinating with the Ministries of Industry, Natural Resources and Environment, and relevant agencies;

Local level: Chairman of the People's Committee of provinces and centrally-administered cities;

- Forces participating in rescue: military, police, self-defense forces, other local forces;

- Equipment: dual-purpose search and rescue helicopters, specialized search and rescue vessels, floating bridges, excavators, bulldozers, cranes, hoists, flatbed trucks, concrete cutting equipment; ships; various types of emergency shelters.

5. Oil spill incident.

- Command agency, forces participating in rescue: carried out according to the Regulation on Response to Oil Spills approved by the Prime Minister.

- Equipment: multi-purpose oil spill response vessels; oil containment booms on sea and rivers, dispersants, oil suction pumps, and specialized equipment.

6. Hazardous chemical leakage and dispersion incident.

- Command agency:

Central level: The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment leads, coordinating with the Ministries of Industry, Defense, and relevant agencies;

Local level: Chairman of the People's Committee of provinces and centrally-administered cities;

- Forces participating in rescue: specialized forces from the Ministries of Industry, Natural Resources and Environment, Health, Defense, and related units;

- Equipment: special purpose vehicles; chemical protective suits and helmets; specialized equipment.

7. Aircraft accident occurring within Vietnam.

- Command agency:

Central level: The National Committee for Search and Rescue leads, coordinating with the Ministries of Transport, Defense;

Local level: Chairman of the People's Committee of provinces and centrally-administered cities;

- Forces participating in rescue: military, police, self-defense forces, units under the Ministry of Transport, and other local forces;

- Equipment: dual-purpose search and rescue helicopters; specialized vehicle equipment and medical emergency equipment.

8. Marine vessel accident.

- Command agency:

Central level: The National Committee for Search and Rescue leads, coordinating with the Ministries of Transport, Fisheries, Defense;

Local level: Chairman of the People's Committee of provinces and centrally-administered cities;

- Forces participating in rescue: search and rescue forces from the Ministries of Transport, Fisheries, Defense, and other local forces;

- Equipment: dual-purpose search and rescue helicopters; specialized search and rescue vessels; specialized boats and speedboats; various types of emergency shelters, life jackets, life buoys.

9. Dam, reservoir breach incident.

- Command agency:

Central level: The Central Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention leads, coordinating with the National Committee for Search and Rescue and the Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development, Industry;

Local level: Chairman of the People's Committee of provinces and centrally-administered cities;

- Forces participating in rescue: military, police, self-defense forces, other local forces;

- Equipment: dual-purpose search and rescue helicopters, transport aircraft, cargo trucks, excavators, bulldozers, construction vehicles, various types of emergency shelters, life jackets, life buoys.

10. Offshore platform and pipeline explosion and fire incident.

- Command agency:

Central level: PetroVietnam Corporation leads, coordinating with the National Committee for Search and Rescue, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Public Security, and relevant agencies;

Local level: Chairman of the People's Committee of provinces and centrally-administered cities leads, coordinating with heads of agencies and units where the incident occurred;

- Rescue forces participating: oil and gas units, military, police, and other forces on the site where the incident occurs;

- Equipment: dual-purpose search and rescue helicopters; specialized search and rescue vessels; multi-functional oil spill response vessels; sea oil containment booms; water pumps; dispersants; specialized equipment.

11. Particularly serious traffic accidents on roads, railways, and inland waterways.

- Command agency:

Central level: The Ministry of Transport shall take the lead and coordinate with the National Search and Rescue Committee and relevant agencies;

Local level: Chairman of the People's Committee of provinces and centrally-administered cities;

- Rescue forces participating: military, police, self-defense forces, units of the Ministry of Transport, and other local forces;

- Equipment: specialized cranes and forklifts; dual-purpose search and rescue helicopters; welding machines; iron cutters and concrete cutters; ambulances.

IV. SYSTEM OF DIRECTING AUTHORITIES AND SEARCH AND RESCUE FORCES.

The system of directing authorities and search and rescue forces from central to local levels shall be organized as follows:

- The National Search and Rescue Committee.

- The Search and Rescue Steering Committees of Ministries and sectors.

- The Search and Rescue Steering Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities; districts, counties, towns, and cities under provincial administration; communes, wards, and towns under county administration (hereinafter referred to as the local Search and Rescue Steering Committees).

To ensure centralized and effective direction, based on the functions and tasks of the agencies, at relevant ministries and localities, directing bodies working on a part-time basis shall be established to direct search and rescue operations; these bodies may also concurrently handle flood prevention, forest fire prevention, etc.

- Specialized units performing tasks within the field of search and rescue.

1. The National Search and Rescue Committee.

The National Search and Rescue Committee operates on a part-time basis and includes: the Chairman being a member of the Government; the Vice-Chairman and some members being Deputy Ministers or equivalent officials from the Ministries of Defense, Agriculture and Rural Development, Natural Resources and Environment, Public Security, Transport, Industry, Fisheries, Health, Planning and Investment, Finance, and the Government Office; the National Search and Rescue Committee has a permanent office specializing in its work located at the Ministry of Defense.

The Prime Minister decides on the organizational structure, functions, and tasks of the National Search and Rescue Committee and its permanent office.

To ensure timely direction by the Government and to align with the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response that Vietnam signed at the 38th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic, it is imperative to promptly implement research and review the functions, tasks, organizational structures, nature, and scope of activities of the Committees and Commissions operating on a part-time basis related to the field of search and rescue such as flood prevention, disaster management, forest fire prevention, fire and explosion prevention, traffic safety, etc., and on this basis, develop a proposal for organizational structure towards establishing dedicated agencies at the central level and some specialized units at relevant ministries to undertake the aforementioned tasks.

2. The Search and Rescue Steering Committees of Ministries and Sectors.

Strengthen the Search and Rescue Steering Committees in some ministries: Defense, Public Security, Transport, Fisheries, Industry, Agriculture and Rural Development, Natural Resources and Environment, Health, and the Vietnam Oil and Gas Corporation.

These Committees operate on a part-time basis and are directly guided by the National Search and Rescue Committee in the field of search and rescue. The heads of the ministries and agencies mentioned above decide on the organizational structure, functions, and tasks of the Search and Rescue Steering Committee in their respective ministries and sectors.

3. The Local Search and Rescue Steering Committees.

Strengthen the Local Search and Rescue Steering Committees.

These Committees operate on a part-time basis and are guided by the upper-level Search and Rescue Steering Committees and the National Search and Rescue Committee in the field of search and rescue. The Chairman of the People's Committee at the local level decides on the organizational structure, functions, and tasks of the Search and Rescue Steering Committee at their local level.

4. Specialized Units Performing Tasks Within the Field of Search and Rescue.

a) Strengthen the following agencies and units:

- The permanent office assisting the National Search and Rescue Committee.

- Regional search and rescue coordination centers; maritime search and rescue coordination centers; air search and rescue coordination centers (in the Northern, Central, and Southern regions).

- Regional oil spill response centers: Northern, Central, and Southern regions.

- Air search and rescue training center; maritime search and rescue training center.

b) Study and propose the establishment of the following units:

- Search and rescue stations in some remote islands: Cô Tô (Quảng Ninh), Bạch Long Vĩ (Hải Phòng), Cồn Cỏ (Quảng Trị), Lý Sơn (Quảng Ngãi), Trường Sa (Khánh Hòa), Phú Quý (Bình Thuận), Côn Đảo (Bà Rịa - Vũng Tàu), Thổ Chu, Phú Quốc (Kiên Giang).

- Specialized search and rescue units under the Ministries of Defense, Public Security, and Transport.

Based on the study and survey proposals regarding the models, organizational structures, functions, and tasks of the units mentioned in points a and b of Clause 4 above, submit to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision.

V. GUIDELINES FOR INVESTMENT IN CONSTRUCTION, PURCHASE, MANAGEMENT, AND USE OF EQUIPMENT FOR SEARCH AND RESCUE DURING THE 2006-2015 PERIOD

1. Principles and Objectives of Investment:

a) Basic Construction:

Gradually invest in material foundations and infrastructure for the specialized units performing tasks within the field of search and rescue as stipulated in Point 4, Part IV of Article 1 of this Decision (Annex I attached).

b) Purchase of Equipment:

- Prioritize essential and commonly used equipment for search and rescue to meet the needs of rescue operations in storm-prone, flood-prone areas, and coastal regions for storage and immediate distribution when needed, including high-speed boats and canoes; various types of life-saving tents; life jackets; various types of life buoys; and necessary equipment (Annex II attached).

- Gradually equip specialized equipment, such as: dual-purpose search and rescue helicopters; multi-functional, specialized high-speed search and rescue vessels capable of operating far from shore and withstanding winds up to force 8; multi-functional, specialized oil spill response vessels capable of operating far from shore; oil spill response equipment; specialized equipment for search and rescue operations of various Ministries and sectors (Annex III attached hereto).

The procurement of the aforementioned equipment must comply with the list specified in Annex II and Annex III issued together with this Decision and the detailed list of types of search and rescue equipment approved by the Prime Minister. National reserve search and rescue equipment must meet national reserve standards. When it is necessary to reserve essential and commonly used equipment for search and rescue operations at certain Ministries, sectors, and localities, a report must be submitted to the Chairman of the National Search and Rescue Committee for consideration and decision by the Prime Minister.

c) In emergency situations:

In addition to requisitioning equipment from individuals and organizations as provided for in the Ordinance on Emergency Situations, it may also be necessary to lease required equipment from enterprises, agencies, and units to promptly meet assigned tasks.

2. Sources of investment capital.

a) State budget funds:

Each year, relevant agencies shall develop specific plans and prepare budgets for search and rescue activities, submitting them to competent authorities for approval in accordance with the State Budget Law. For the immediate future, until 2010, the main source of investment will be the state budget and other sources of funding. Studies should be conducted to implement socialization in some aspects of search and rescue operations.

b) Foreign sources of funds:

Financial assistance and humanitarian aid from organizations and individuals; funds from international relations in search and rescue.

3. Management and use of search and rescue equipment.

Establish mechanisms for the allocation, management, and use of search and rescue equipment, including:

- Regulations on the use of national reserve items for search and rescue purposes after they have been removed from the national reserve warehouse;

- Regulations on the use of search and rescue equipment obtained from other sources;

- Measures for recovery, sealing, and storage for preservation after the completion of search and rescue operations to ensure reuse in subsequent periods;

- Regular and ad hoc inspections, statistics, inventory, and reporting.

VI. GENERAL DIRECTION FOR THE PERIOD 2016-2020

Organize summaries and evaluations of the situation, draw lessons from the implementation of the overall planning for the search and rescue sector during each phase: 2006-2010 and 2011-2015, based on which report to the Prime Minister on the results of implementation, propose adjustments and supplements for the next phase, and outline the planning direction for the period 2016-2020, including the following main contents:

1. Supplement and adjust the organization of the search and rescue system to ensure suitability for the new phase.

2. Supplement and adjust, improve the investment in construction of infrastructure and procurement of equipment from previous phases, propose directions for investment in subsequent years until 2020.

3. Implementation measures and responsibilities of relevant Ministries, sectors, agencies, and localities.

VII. IMPLEMENTATION MEASURES

1. Develop and perfect legal documents for the search and rescue sector, submit them to competent authorities for approval to serve as a basis for directing and enforcing search and rescue activities.

2. Study to develop solutions for mobilizing non-state budget funds; establish mechanisms to implement socialization in some aspects of the search and rescue sector to mobilize legitimate resources for investment in this field.

3. Differentiate public services and profit-making services in search and rescue to develop solutions for mobilizing individuals and businesses to participate in search and rescue or to determine profitable investment directions in the search and rescue sector (such as rescue services for businesses, international rescue).

4. Enhance the role and responsibility of Ministries and sectors in organizing and implementing the plan; strengthen education and communication to the community in disaster prevention, accident prevention, and incident handling.

5. By 2010 and 2015, updates every five years are needed to adjust the plan to ensure its suitability with the needs of the search and rescue sector and the socio-economic development of the country.

Article 2. Responsibilities of Ministries and sectors in organizing and implementing the plan:

1. National Search and Rescue Committee:

a) Take the lead and coordinate with related Ministries and sectors to implement the contents approved in this Decision. Initially, coordinate with the Ministry of Home Affairs and relevant agencies to develop documents on organizational restructuring as stipulated in Clause 1 and Clause 4 of Part IV, Article 1 of this Decision.

b) Based on this Decision, develop activity plans and coordination regulations for search and rescue operations nationwide, ensuring suitability with various search and rescue scenarios, submit to the Chairman of the National Search and Rescue Committee for approval; simultaneously guide, inspect, and urge the development of activity plans and coordination regulations for search and rescue operations by Ministries, sectors, and localities.

c) Annually, coordinate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Finance to develop plans and prepare budgets in accordance with the State Budget Law; coordinate with relevant Ministries and sectors to monitor, direct, and inspect the implementation of investment in construction and procurement of search and rescue equipment.

d) On the basis of Appendix II and Appendix III attached to this Decision, take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Finance, and relevant agencies to develop a list detailing types of equipment for search and rescue operations, propose procurement projects for search and rescue equipment at relevant ministries and sectors, report to the Chairman of the National Search and Rescue Committee for submission to the Prime Minister for approval as a basis for production and procurement that are appropriate to operational needs, avoiding duplication and waste; take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Finance, and relevant agencies to develop regulations on mechanisms for distribution, management, and use of search and rescue equipment, submit them to the competent authority for approval.

đ) Take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance and relevant agencies to study and submit to the competent authority for approval the mechanism for socialization of search and rescue activities as stipulated in Clause 2, Part V, Article 1 of this Decision.

2. The Ministry of Home Affairs:

a) Take the lead and coordinate with the National Search and Rescue Committee and relevant agencies to develop documents regarding the organizational structure as specified in Clause 1 and Clause 4, Part IV, Article 1 of this Decision, and submit them to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision before the third quarter of 2006.

b) Take the lead and coordinate with the National Search and Rescue Committee and the Ministries of Defense, Public Security, Transport, Agriculture and Rural Development, and relevant agencies to develop the project as specified in Clause 1, Part IV, Article 1 of this Decision, and submit it to the Prime Minister before the fourth quarter of 2006; based on the approved project, take the lead and coordinate with the Ministries and relevant agencies to develop and submit to the Government a Decree on the field of search and rescue.

3. The Ministry of Planning and Investment.

Based on the lists specified in the appendices attached to this Decision, the detailed lists of types of search and rescue equipment approved by the competent authority, and the ability to ensure state budget funds, take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance and the National Search and Rescue Committee to allocate investment funds for infrastructure construction and procurement of search and rescue equipment, submit them to the competent authority for approval.

4. The Ministry of Finance:

Based on the lists specified in Appendix II attached to this Decision, the detailed lists of types of search and rescue equipment approved, take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the National Search and Rescue Committee to allocate funds for procurement of national reserve search and rescue equipment, regular expenses within the field of search and rescue, submit them to the competent authority for approval.

5. The Ministries of Defense, Public Security, Transport, Fisheries, Industry, Agriculture and Rural Development, Natural Resources and Environment, Health, and Vietnam Oil and Gas Corporation annually take the lead and coordinate with the National Search and Rescue Committee to establish procurement projects for specialized equipment of each ministry and sector as specified in Appendix III of this Decision, and simultaneously establish investment projects for infrastructure construction as specified in Appendix I of this Decision, report to the Chairman of the National Search and Rescue Committee for guidance before submitting to the competent authority for approval.

- Establish and improve the Search and Rescue Steering Committee of their own ministry or sector. Based on actual requirements, tasks, and operational areas, decide to establish Search and Rescue Steering Committees on a part-time basis for units under their jurisdiction.

- Develop plans for search and rescue operations; coordination and cooperation regulations in search and rescue operations at the ministry or sector level; be ready to carry out search and rescue tasks according to plans and requests from the National Search and Rescue Committee.

- Annually develop plans and budgets for search and rescue activities within their management scope, submit them to the competent authority for approval; be responsible for implementing the guidance of the National Search and Rescue Committee on the implementation of search and rescue tasks related to their ministry or sector.

6. Provinces and centrally-administered cities.

- Establish and improve the provincial-level Search and Rescue Steering Committee;

- Direct the establishment and improvement of Search and Rescue Steering Committees at districts, counties, and towns within the province; communes, wards, and towns within the county;

- Direct the development of plans for search and rescue operations, coordination and cooperation regulations in search and rescue operations at the local level; be ready to carry out search and rescue tasks according to plans and requests from higher-level Search and Rescue Steering Committees and the National Search and Rescue Committee.

- Annually develop plans and budgets for search and rescue activities within their management scope, submit them to the competent authority for approval; be subject to the guidance of the National Search and Rescue Committee on the implementation of search and rescue tasks related to their locality.

Article 3. This Decision takes effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette. Previous documents related to the field of search and rescue that conflict with this Decision are abolished.

Article 4. Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government-affiliated agencies, Chairmen of provincial People's Committees, centrally-administered city People's Committees, and heads of relevant agencies and units are responsible for implementing this Decision. /