Decision No. 90/1998/QĐ-TTg On measures to address the consequences of drought and natural disasters in early 1998

DECISION OF THE PRIME MINISTER

On measures to address the consequences of drought and natural disasters in the early months of 1998trong những tháng đầu năm 1998

PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the Government Organization Law dated September 30, 1992;

Considering the proposals of the People's Committees of the provinces and the suggestions of the Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development, Planning and Investment, Finance, Fisheries, and the State Bank of Vietnam;

To mitigate the severe damage caused by drought and natural disasters in late 1997 and early 1998, stabilize people's lives quickly, restore and develop production,

DECISION:

Article 1. The People's Committees of the affected provinces and relevant ministries and sectors shall be responsible for implementing the following tasks:

1. Concentrate all efforts from central and local levels to immediately provide relief and famine assistance to poor households experiencing severe difficulties in drought-affected and disaster-stricken areas. All levels of government shall coordinate with mass organizations to mobilize the people to help each other, prioritizing self-reliance at the local level to stabilize people's lives and avoid dependency on state support.

The Chairpersons of the People's Committees of the provinces must ensure that every possible measure is taken to prevent famine within their jurisdictions.

2. Regarding agricultural production:

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall work specifically with the People's Committees of the provinces to closely monitor weather conditions and water sources in each locality, directing the recovery and development of production with the most proactive measures such as adjusting crop seasons, using short-term or ultra-short-term rice varieties, protecting and developing industrial crops and livestock herds... In the Mekong Delta region, consideration should be given to developing the third rice crop.

3. Regarding water resource management:

- Continue to mobilize all resources, implement effective drought mitigation measures, protect water sources, dredge canals and ditches, conserve and use water efficiently, prioritize water supply for daily life and key crops in each locality, ensuring fresh water and preventing saltwater intrusion in coastal areas.

- Intensify efforts to accelerate the construction progress of water resource projects, particularly those scheduled for completion in 1998 to promptly serve production and people's livelihoods. The People's Committees of the provinces must review and rearrange various types of projects within their jurisdictions to adjust capital structures and prioritize essential water resource projects.

- The Ministry of Planning and Investment, in collaboration with relevant agencies, shall adjust plans and seek additional funding to supplement water resource projects in the last six months of 1998.

4. Regarding the fisheries sector:

To address the issue of shrimp deaths in some provinces of the Mekong Delta, the Ministry of Fisheries shall work with the provinces of Tra Vinh, Long An, Tien Giang, and Ca Mau to determine the causes (disease, seed quality, or environment...). In the interim, while the full causes are not yet identified, the Ministry of Fisheries shall develop basic long-term solutions with minimal risk, coordinating with the People's Committees of the provinces to review and rearrange aquaculture areas according to the overall plan.

Regarding the construction of dykes to prevent saltwater intrusion in Tra Vinh Province: The Ministry of Fisheries shall work with the province to prepare an investment project, with the Ministries of Planning and Investment, Agriculture and Rural Development, Fisheries, Science, Technology and Environment, and the State Bank of Vietnam providing reviews and reporting to the Prime Minister by June 1998.

Article 2. Regarding urgent issues:

1. The People's Committees of severely drought-affected provinces shall conduct investigations, statistics, and accurately identify households suffering from food shortages. Based on this, they shall provide famine relief subsidies at a rate of 8 kg of rice per person per month until alternative income sources are available. These funds shall be sourced from social security expenses, public service funds, and local reserves.

The Ministry of Finance shall work with the People's Committees of the provinces to assist local budgets, determine funding sources, and report to the Prime Minister for decision.

The Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs and the Ministry of Finance shall guide the People's Committees of the provinces in implementing these subsidies.

2. To assist farmers and fishermen in restoring and developing production, the State Bank of Vietnam shall direct commercial banks to consider and process loan extensions for households heavily impacted but still capable of repaying under current mechanisms; for households in extreme difficulty, the People's Committees of the provinces shall review, list, and confirm, with the State Bank of Vietnam compiling and reporting to the Prime Minister for a decision to write off debts.

3. The State Bank of Vietnam shall direct commercial banks to continue providing loans to households to restore and develop agricultural and aquaculture production.

In severely drought-affected provinces (Dak Lak, Lam Dong, Dong Nai, Long An, Kien Giang, Binh Phuoc, Ca Mau, Bac Lieu), the State Bank of Vietnam may use 140 billion VND from the 2,000 billion VND fund under Article 6 of Decision No. 985/TTg dated November 20, 1997 of the Prime Minister to provide short-term loans for short-term crops and medium-term loans for long-term crops (coffee, pepper, sugar cane, cashew...) for households whose crop areas have suffered losses of 80% or more and are in extremely difficult circumstances without capital to restore production. These borrowers shall also enjoy preferential interest rates as per Decision No. 958/TTg dated November 20, 1997.

The State Bank of Vietnam shall allocate quotas based on reports from the People's Committees of the provinces, instructing commercial banks to facilitate quick and convenient loan procedures, ensuring correct targeting and regular monitoring of the effective use of borrowed funds and timely repayment.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment, in coordination with the Ministry of Finance and the State Bank of Vietnam, shall seek additional sources to supplement the funding needs mentioned above.

4. For provinces affected by storms, hail...: Provinces shall use social security expenses, reserves, and flood control funds to address the situation. The Ministry of Finance shall expedite subsidies within the plan for these provinces to handle the situation.

5. The exemption and reduction of agricultural land use tax shall be implemented in accordance with current laws.

Article 3. Assign responsibilities to relevant ministries and sectors:

1. The General Department of Meteorology and Hydrology shall monitor weather conditions, promptly notify related sectors and localities to take proactive measures.

2. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Industry shall work together with localities to regulate water from irrigation and hydropower reservoirs for rational and economical use, ensuring water needs for agricultural production and power generation.

3. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall organize guidance and coordinate with localities to review plans for production development, particularly coffee cultivation, expanding areas only where water resources are available and consistent with overall regional and local planning.

4. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall work with the Ministry of Planning and Investment to allocate priority funding for irrigation starting from 1999.

With the rainy season approaching, from now on, ministries, sectors, provincial People's Committees, and centrally governed municipalities must strengthen guidance on flood and storm prevention and control, closely monitor weather developments, prepare adequately to counteract floods, storms, and natural disasters in 1998, and minimize damage caused by floods and storms.

Article 4. Establish a Government Working Group led by a Deputy Prime Minister, including leaders from relevant ministries and sectors, to visit affected provinces due to drought to promptly direct recovery efforts, quickly restore production, and stabilize people's lives.

Article 5. This Decision takes effect from the date of signature. Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of agencies under the Government, and Chairpersons of provincial People's Committees of centrally governed municipalities are responsible for implementing this Decision.