Cái Răng Floating market in the Mekong Delta. The National Assembly Standing Committee yesterday debated budgetary allocations to implement a national programme on building new-style rural areas in the Mekong Delta region between 2016 and 2020. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI – The National Assembly Standing Committee yesterday debated budgetary allocations to implement a national programme on building new-style rural areas in the Mekong Delta region between 2016 and 2020.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Hoàng Văn Thắng, presented the Government’s report which says the Mekong Delta needs higher investment for infrastructure building than other regions due to its complicated geology and scarcity of construction materials.
The Government suggested that the NA Standing Committee add 1,244 communes, including 544 extremely disadvantaged ones, in 12 Mekong Delta provinces to the list of localities receiving central budget support.
The NA Committee for Finance and Budget said it was essential to increase investment in the Mekong Delta to ensure food security and boost economic growth.
NA Vice Chairman Phùng Quốc Hiển said the NA Standing Committee agreed with the Government’s proposal, but was seeking clarification of the beneficiary communes and the investment amount needed.
He asked the NA Committee for Finance and Budget to coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Planning and Investment to clear up these issues before submitting the request to the NA Standing Committee for further consideration.

Mid-term public investment plan reviewed

In the afternoon, NA deputies discussed the mid-term public investment plan presented by Minister of Investment and Planning Nguyễn Chí Dũng.

NA Vice Chairwoman Tòng Thị Phóng said that specific allocation should be considered for important projects, projects funded by official development assistance or public-private-partnership (PPP) projects. In the meantime, budget allocation should also ensure transparency and fairness.

Some NA deputies suggested--that during project list review--relevant agencies must ensure that allocation is strictly based on regulations stated in the Law On Public Investment, the Law on State Budget and other principles agreed on by the National Assembly.

Deputy Prime Minister Vương Đình Huệ said that the Government would seriously listen to the recommendations of NA deputies to adjust and complete the mid-term public investment plan.

Regarding the tardiness and shortcomings of the reimbursement of investment capital and the completion of the mid-term public investment plan, Huệ cited reasons both subjective and objective. He said this was the first time such a plan was drafted, so many localities were inexperienced in balancing the allocation list. But, more important, individuals who were passive and irresponsible were the biggest cause for the tardiness. — VNS