Decision No. 668/TTg On directions, measures to mitigate natural disasters and main programs for socio-economic development of central coastal provinces

Pursuant to …;

On the orientation and measures to mitigate natural disasters and the main programs for socio-economic development of central coastal provinces

PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the Government Organization Law dated September 30, 1992;
Considering the proposals of the Ministries of Planning and Investment, Agriculture and Rural Development, Fisheries, Industry, Transport, and the Central Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Control, as well as the recommendations from the Conference on "Flood and Storm Prevention and Socio-Economic Development of Central Coastal Provinces" held in Hue City from June 20 to June 22, 1997,

Pursuant to …;

Article 1. The central coastal provinces from Thanh Hoa to Binh Thuan need to accurately assess their potential, comparative advantages, and difficulties, thereby formulating solutions to overcome, prevent, and adapt to natural disasters, seize opportunities, organize and direct implementation to fully exploit their natural and human potential, aiming to gradually stabilize and develop alongside other regions nationwide, moving towards industrialization and modernization.

The prominent advantage of the central coastal provinces during the period of industrialization is their diverse topography and ecosystems; geological and soil conditions suitable for developing various industries; serving as a point of interaction between domestic economic regions; being a hub for transportation with countries in the region; having a system of seaports, roads, railways, and airports that have been and continue to be constructed; and having a plentiful labor force.

Alongside these advantages, generally, the central coastal provinces start from a lower base compared to some other regions in the country. Harsh weather and climate conditions, floods, storms, droughts... occur frequently and complexly, affecting people's lives and socio-economic development in the region.

The goal of socio-economic development of the central coastal provinces from now until 2000 is to achieve an annual economic growth rate (GDP) of 10-12%; rapidly transform the economic structure, accelerate the development of industry and services, reform agricultural production structures, diversify products, ensure sustainable ecological environments, properly address social issues based on maximizing local resources, effectively attracting and utilizing external and foreign resources.

Article 2. The orientation for flood and storm prevention, disaster mitigation is "Proactive prevention, mitigation, and adaptation," ensuring safety for people's lives, protecting state and people's property; quickly restoring production, stabilizing living conditions, gradually adapting to disasters to promote economic development.

Based on summarizing flood and storm control work in central provinces, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Central Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Control need to guide and closely coordinate with the provinces to:

- Develop specific regulations and guidelines for solutions in different situations to prevent and minimize damage caused by natural disasters.

- Continue improving existing infrastructure projects and constructing new ones such that these projects form a system contributing to preventing and reducing damage caused by natural disasters, while avoiding repeated destruction by natural disasters leading to waste.

- Arrange crop structures and shift planting seasons to avoid and adapt to storms, floods, and inundations.

Article 3. Some key economic development programs to reduce and gradually limit damage caused by natural disasters.

1. Forest Planting and Protection Program:

Forests in central coastal provinces, especially upstream forests and coastal protective forests, play a decisive role in preventing and limiting the impact of floods and storms, retaining water, combating soil erosion and desertification, protecting sea dykes, mitigating natural disasters, and maintaining ecological balance for sustainable development.

The goal is to strive to achieve a forest coverage rate and that of industrial trees exceeding 40% by the year 2000 through developing 650,000 hectares of new forests, including: rejuvenating 200,000 hectares of existing forests, planting new forests on barren hills and mountains with 450,000 hectares of land, and industrial trees with good coverage. By the year 2010, the forest coverage rate and that of perennial industrial trees should reach 60-65%, aiming to enhance protective capacity, balance the ecological environment, and contribute to mitigating natural disasters.

Provincial People's Committees must organize and direct the strict and continuous review of the implementation of Directive No. 286/TTg dated May 2, 1997, of the Prime Minister regarding the strengthening of urgent measures for forest protection and development.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has the responsibility, together with relevant ministries and provincial people's committees, to promptly complete the allocation of land and forests for organizations, individuals, and households in accordance with Decree No. 02/CP dated January 5, 1994, of the Government and in line with the spirit of Directive No. 286/TTg dated May 2, 1997, of the Prime Minister. Each province must grasp the fund of various types of land and the situation of land use within its territory to have reasonable planning and adjustment plans. It is essential to ensure that farming households have sufficient land to grow short-term crops to meet food needs, land to plant fruit trees, develop garden economies, and raise livestock. This is the prerequisite condition and fundamental solution for the local population to settle down and cultivate, avoiding deforestation for food crops while participating in protecting, nurturing, and replanting forests on allocated land and forest areas..

2. Program to adjust the structure and cropping seasons of agricultural production.

The adjustment of the agricultural production structure must follow the direction of producing goods with value serving domestic demand and export, leveraging the potential and advantages of land, ecosystems, customs, and production experience of each locality to develop the economy and society of the region.

Efforts must be concentrated on water management to increase arable land, select high-yield and quality varieties, arrange cropping seasons reasonably, striving to achieve a rice yield of 4.2 to 4.5 million tons by the year 2000, ensuring national food security and increasing export turnover, along with key rice-producing regions nationwide.

In addition to rice, there must be planning, programs, and specific policies and solutions to mobilize all human resources to develop industrial crops suitable for the natural conditions of the region.

- It is necessary to link sugar factories with the development of raw material areas, rapidly propagate new sugarcane varieties with high yields and sugar content, ensuring that by the year 2000, the entire region will have approximately 100,000 hectares of sugarcane planted and sufficient processing facilities to meet domestic consumption and export demands.

- There must be planning and programs to develop rubber, coffee, cotton, pepper, cocoa... in places with suitable conditions; grapes and dragon fruit in Binh Thuan and Ninh Thuan, closely linked with the construction of processing facilities and expanding markets, enhancing efficiency, and ensuring farmers' long-term production stability.

- Fully exploit the potential and strengths of the region to develop livestock, particularly cattle, pigs, and goats. Properly address issues of breeding and disease prevention, especially foot-and-mouth disease. Promptly plan grazing lands for households or lease them to farmers for large-scale cattle farming.

Coastal provinces of Central Vietnam have significant advantages and potential in terms of land, seawater, climate, and labor for salt production to meet domestic and industrial needs, and eventually for export. The Land Administration General Department and provincial people's committees need to assess and plan areas with suitable land conditions to transition to efficient industrial salt production. Specifically, the two provinces of Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan must complete survey procedures, project construction, and feasibility approval for the Phuong Cuu and Quan The salt flats in 1997, and expand the Cana salt flat to start construction in 1998. The Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance must coordinate and ensure funding for these industrial salt development projects.

3. Construction of irrigation works and dykes.

The construction of irrigation works and dykes in coastal provinces of Central Vietnam is of utmost importance in preventing natural disasters, blocking saline intrusion, combating drought, providing water for daily life and agricultural production, especially in difficult areas, but it must be carried out step-by-step according to the overall planning, taking into account the topography and hydro-meteorological conditions of the region.

Regarding dykes:

+ Coastal river dikes in Central Vietnam must ensure flood protection during the main flood season, large floods, and safe harvests of late summer and early autumn rice in southern coastal provinces of Central Vietnam.

+ Necessary elevations must be set for coastal dike lines to block tidal surges and limit saline intrusion, with plans to develop tree barriers in weak coastal dike areas.

+ Dike lines around lagoons must withstand the highest tide levels during the late summer season and have measures to reinforce the dike surface to prevent destruction from floods when the dike is submerged.

+ A research program must be established to develop measures and specific plans to address sections of rivers, river mouths, and coastal areas experiencing complex changes (sedimentation, erosion, instability) affecting people's lives and production.

Regarding reservoirs and canals:

+ Continue building new reservoirs, including those in upstream areas, upgrading and completing existing reservoirs to reduce flooding, retain water against drought, serve production and people's livelihoods, and improve the ecological environment of the entire region.

+ Gradually strengthen the system of water conveyance canals and small waterworks infrastructure to save land, reduce water loss, and maximize the effectiveness of invested projects.

||| It is necessary to organize research and develop plans to implement programs for river channel rectification, river mouth protection, and bank stabilization such as the Tu Hien, Thuan An (Thua Thien Hue) mouths, Da, An Hoa (Quang Nam) mouths, Da Rang, Da Nong (Phu Yen) mouths, Ca River mouth (Ninh Thuan), Phan Ri River mouth (Binh Thuan); address sections of rivers and river mouths currently experiencing erosion; prevent encroachment on riverbanks for house construction and building projects that affect flood drainage of river channels.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall take the lead in coordinating with the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the People's Committees of the provinces to develop specific proposals to implement the above contents, identify urgent works under construction to focus investment and complete them immediately in 1998. By the fourth quarter of 1997, it must determine new construction projects from 1998 to 2000 and key projects to be initiated after 2000 to submit to the Prime Minister. Based on the approved project list, relevant ministries and provincial people's committees shall establish specific projects, mobilize central, local, and local community investment funds to implement them.

4. Fisheries Development Program

Marine fishing is a traditional, potential, and strength of coastal provinces in Central Vietnam. The Ministry of Fisheries shall closely coordinate with the People's Committees of the provinces to organize and direct the implementation of this program sustainably to increase production volume and export value.

- Strive to reach a fisheries production volume of 450,000 to 500,000 tons and an export value of approximately 250 million USD by the year 2000.

- Strengthen marine fishing activities linked with deepening investment to enhance fishing capacity, especially distant-water fishing, upgrade and construct new processing facilities, identify and effectively exploit new fishing grounds.

- Alongside marine fishing, it is necessary to organize freshwater and brackish water aquaculture (especially in lagoons and lakes) well.

- Accelerate processing to improve quality and diversify seafood products for domestic consumption, focusing on high-value-added products for export and serving large urban centers and industrial zones.

- Each locality should organize fleets consisting of large-capacity vessels equipped with rescue equipment as the core for medium and small-sized vessels to venture out to fish. Measures must ensure all vessels at sea have lifebuoys and necessary safety equipment. During typhoon and flood seasons, accurate typhoon and tropical depression forecasts and warnings must be provided, lifesaving equipment and communication means must be supplied, safe anchorage areas for vessels and fishermen must be established, and Directive No. 39/TTg dated January 18, 1997 of the Prime Minister must be strictly implemented to ensure safety for fishing vessels operating at sea.

- Reorganize the lives of residents in fishing villages and along lagoon and lake areas dedicated to marine fishing. Plans must be made and conditions created for all fishing households to settle ashore, ending the floating lifestyle in lagoons and lakes... and investment plans to improve and upgrade fishing ports and services must be developed to facilitate fishing vessel operations and product sales.

5. Transportation Development Program

- The Ministry of Transport shall study and develop comprehensive regulations and strategies for the development of transportation in coastal Central Vietnam in stages up to 2000, 2005, and subsequent years, identifying key projects and specific steps, investment mechanisms, capital mobilization, responsibilities of the central and local governments for each project in each stage to submit to the Prime Minister for approval. On this basis, investment projects shall be established to fully implement each project, avoiding scattered investments without sufficient capital, unfinished projects, and low efficiency.

- In the short term, the Ministry of Transport shall take the lead in coordinating with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and localities to assess the impact of floods and storms on road and railway lines and vice versa, the impact of transportation lines on flood drainage and flood prevention. Additional bypass roads must be opened in sections frequently flooded causing traffic congestion, measures to reinforce road surfaces and slopes to withstand flooding must be taken, ensuring safety for east-west routes, particularly civilian roads, mountain roads, and routes prone to landslides during the rainy season.

- Improvements to National Highway 1A and the North-South Railway must be closely coordinated with the water resources sector to develop optimal solutions to ensure rapid flood drainage and prevention of damage and erosion during the rainy season, ensuring uninterrupted traffic in all situations.

- Besides north-south axes, planning and gradually constructing east-west axes, airports, and connections to the Central Highlands provinces must be carried out to ensure smooth transportation throughout both dry and rainy seasons between counties within the region, mountains, and the coast (including two-wheeled vehicle roads, civilian roads...) to promote production and commodity exchange.

Article 4. Agricultural Development, Urbanization, and Tourism

Coastal provinces in Central Vietnam possess significant potential and advantages in terms of port systems, land, and terrain suitable for industrial, urban, and tourism development.

- Regarding industry: Apart from oil refining, mechanical repair and shipbuilding, construction materials, and mineral extraction industries, attention should be given to deepening investment in agricultural and marine product processing, industrial salt, mineral water, wine, and soft drinks using local raw materials; simultaneously researching and developing labor-intensive industries such as textiles, leather goods, consumer goods production; increasing the share of industry in GDP to lay the groundwork for industrialization and modernization.

The planning and construction of industrial clusters and economic development zones must be closely linked with gradually upgrading the system of seaports, power transmission lines, roads leading to ports and industrial zones, in accordance with the overall master plan for the entire region, to support and promote each other. It is necessary to promptly develop plans and construction projects for industrial zones such as Dung Quất (Quảng Ngãi), Liên Chiểu, Hòa Khánh (Da Nang), Chu Lai, Tam Kỳ, Tràng Nhật (Quảng Nam), Suối Dầu, Suối Hiệp, Hòn Rớ (Khánh Hoà), Tháp Chàm (Ninh Thuận), Chân Mây (Thừa Thiên - Hue), Vũng Áng (Ha Tinh), Nghi Sơn, Lam Sơn (Thanh Hoá), Cửa Lò, Hoàng Mai, Nghĩa Đàn (Nghe An)... to attract foreign investment and technology. Encouragement and creation of all favorable conditions for domestic organizations and individuals to participate in investing and developing designated industrial zones, thereby forming economic centers and new towns of localities, promoting traditional industries, handicrafts, services, and trade.

In addition to planning the development of industrial clusters, industrial zones should encourage the development of industrial facilities, especially agricultural and seafood processing industries at appropriate scales near raw material sources, areas with abundant labor, and traditional industries.

- Regarding urban development: Urban areas must be re-planned as soon as possible, particularly provincial capitals and cities; attention should be paid to preserving and restoring historical sites and old streets; residential areas should be built in conjunction with industrial zones as satellite towns of existing cities and towns. Gradually form a complete system including cities, towns, market towns, village centers, inter-village centers, residential clusters... reducing the distance between urban and rural areas.

The construction of new urban areas and the expansion of existing ones must comply with approved regulations and plans. Green spaces and recreational areas must be provided, without disrupting the landscape or polluting the environment. Priority should be given to using land acquired within cities and towns for planting trees and public recreation areas.

- Regarding tourism: It is necessary to focus on developing tourism development plans for the entire coastal central region and for each province. Linking the exploitation of cultural heritage in the region for tourism with the maintenance and restoration of these heritages. Attention should be paid to developing coastal tourism, eco-tourism, especially lake and wetland tourism - a unique strength of the central region. In addition to developing infrastructure for the tourism industry such as hotels, beaches, recreational areas... it is necessary to pay attention to developing service systems to extend the stay of tourists and increase revenue from tourism for other production sectors. Specific provisions and organization of inspections for the implementation of regulations on environmental protection and preservation of national cultural identity.

Article 5. Redistribution of labor and population, fixed farming and settlement, eradication of poverty.

Eradicating poverty must be linked to fixed farming and settlement, redistribution of labor and population within the scope of each province to exploit natural potential effectively. This is an important issue that must be considered as a regular task of coastal provinces in the central region. Adequate land must be allocated to stabilize production and living conditions for ethnic minorities, especially those in highlands and former resistance bases.

For the two provinces of Ninh Thuận and Bình Thuận, which have wide land but few residents, if they receive investment in water conservancy works, the area of cultivation can be expanded and more labor can be absorbed to exploit land potential. Therefore, there needs to be a plan for water conservancy works and infrastructure construction to rationally arrange the population within the province (including those who have moved from other provinces) and prepare conditions to absorb additional labor from other provinces according to the plan.

Each province needs a specific timeframe to completely eradicate poverty. It is necessary to grasp and update the situation and causes of poverty in each household in each commune and district, and have plans to resolve each household and each type of target group according to a specific timeline. Regularly review the implementation situation and take timely corrective measures. Ensure that by the year 2000, there will be no households in poverty.

Poverty-stricken households need to be classified, the causes of poverty identified to provide effective support measures. For households in poverty due to lack of land, production means, and capital, it is necessary to ensure sufficient land and provide loans based on credit guarantees so that they can stabilize their production and escape poverty. Concentrated and thorough solutions for each household and locality are required, not evenly distributed. Emphasis should be placed on agricultural extension work, transferring advanced science and technology, applying new farming techniques. Organize well the dissemination of production experience of households with good results for the majority of people to learn and apply. Dispatch cadres to help and guide specific households in poverty due to lack of production experience. Effectively implement community education methods with lazy poor individuals.

For poor households in urban areas, it is necessary to grasp the status and causes of poverty of each household to provide measures to create employment opportunities, provide capital support, and create suitable conditions for each target group. For poor households in resettlement areas, preferential policies should be implemented to allow them to receive land and housing under favorable conditions suitable for their professions.

For poor fishing households, in addition to solving the problem of settlement on land, providing land for residence and gardens like agricultural households, appropriate credit policies should be implemented to create conditions for each poor fishing household to borrow individually or jointly with other fishing households to obtain capital to build boats, purchase fishing gear for distant sea fishing, and have extended repayment periods if unable to repay due to natural disasters causing "poor harvests."

The Land Administration General Department directs the People's Committees of the provinces to conduct statistics and grasp the entire land fund of the locality down to each commune and district, especially the area of land capable of growing staple food crops, fruit trees, and high-value cash crops, and the current land use situation to have plans for rational and efficient exploitation and utilization.

Article 6. Regarding health, education, culture - society.

- On health: Provide sufficient iodized salt to the population, especially in mountainous areas, reduce the goiter rate below 10%, basically eliminate polio among children, prevent and eventually eliminate leprosy in the South Central region, eliminate communes without medical service facilities, care for people's health, reduce the natural population growth rate below 2% by the year 2000.

Invest in upgrading provincial and district general hospitals to have the capacity to examine and treat patients, strengthen disease prevention stations at provincial, regional, and district levels, pay special attention to improving the rural healthcare network, particularly in mountainous and remote areas to provide initial healthcare for the population.

For central healthcare facilities currently located in Da Nang, Hue, Dong Hoi, etc., the Ministry of Health needs to develop plans to invest in and upgrade these facilities in terms of scale and advanced equipment, with the capability to handle medical treatment tasks at the regional level, aiming to form regional and area healthcare centers by the year 2000.

- On education: Vigorously promote literacy campaigns and universal primary education, and develop junior secondary schools. Encourage the construction of schools through the "State and People Together" model and socialize education. Where conditions for building permanent structures are not available, make full use of local materials to construct buildings that are spacious, neat, warm in winter, cool in summer, and must include playgrounds for students, planting trees to beautify the school environment. Expand the model of boarding schools for ethnic minorities to train cadres from the children of ethnic groups to meet current and long-term needs in the locality; reform training content to combine cultural studies with vocational training suitable for the economic and social conditions of mountainous regions.

Urgently plan the construction of vocational schools and training centers for technical workers to meet the human resource needs of the region, especially for concentrated industrial zones, clusters, and enterprises.

The Ministry of Education and Training will coordinate with Thua Thien-Hue Province and Da Nang City to direct Hue University and Da Nang University to ensure their role as centers for training scientific and technical cadres for the entire region.

- On culture - society, sports: Focus on protecting, preserving, and gradually restoring historical, revolutionary, scenic spots such as the Soviet of Nghe Tinh, Lam Son, Quang Tri Citadel, Hue Imperial City, Hoi An Ancient Town, Cham relics, etc., and anti-war relics. Strengthen comprehensive cultural and artistic schools to promptly train human resources for various forms of culture and art to preserve traditional values, develop modern culture combined with national identity.

Strive to ensure that 80-95% of the population can listen to the Voice of Vietnam Radio by the year 2000. The central government will invest in medium-wave transmitters and FM relay stations at key points such as Quang Ngai, Phu Yen, Binh Thuan, Hai Van, Vung Chua. Provinces will complete local broadcasting stations.

Continue to implement the program for transitioning national television broadcasts to ensure that 80-90% of the population can watch Vietnamese television.

Through the national sports program, gradually establish three large sports centers in Nghe An, Da Nang, Khanh Hoa to promote the sports movement throughout the region. Provinces will gradually invest to establish provincial sports centers, initially focusing on three basic projects: stadium, multi-purpose sports hall, swimming pool.

Article 7. Implementing organization.

- The contents of this Decision are the main tasks of local authorities at all levels, which must be detailed into annual programs and plans of each specialized department, each level of local authority, and be centrally directed and organized for implementation under the leadership of Party committees at all levels.

- The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, central ministries and sectors shall, based on their functions and powers, closely cooperate with provinces to organize the implementation of the contents within their scope of direction as stipulated in this Decision.

- The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall consolidate the programs and projects of ministries, sectors, and coastal Central provinces, balance and allocate annual investment plans with specific measures, mechanisms, and policies to implement this Decision. Based on approved programs and projects, develop specific annual plans starting from 1998.

Article 8. Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, and chairmen of provincial People's Committees along the Central Coast are responsible for implementing this Decision.