HÀ NỘI — Around 313,700 houses will be renovated and/or built for Vietnamese citizens in recognition of their contribution to the nation in the second phase of the national housing aid project.

These houses will be built from now until 2018.

The project was launched in April 2013 by the then Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng. Around VNĐ7.3 trillion (US$321 million) has been mobilised for the second phase; another VNĐ840 billion ($37,000) will come from the State budget.

Eligible households can use their own money to build and renovate their homes and will receive reimbursements from the State later.

Spouses of Vietnamese citizens who died for the country can renovate their homes using the Government aid, provided they are able to present their house registration books and live at the same address as stated in the books.

In case both the husband and wife are dead, their children will receive aid from the local budget, if local authorities establish that they are facing housing problems, and if they present relevant documents.

Local authorities are responsible for mobilising annual local budgets and other financial sources for eligible candidates who have not been included in the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA)’s proposal for housing aid, dated May 31 this year.

Those who wish to renovate their existing house and not build a new one, and vice versa, and do not exceed the amount allocated in the central aid can proceed without delay. Local authorities are responsible for mobilising the local budget and other sources for those who exceed that amount.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) and the Ministry of Finance (MOF) are assigned with the task of dividing the amount of aid from the State budget to localities.

The local people’s committees are responsible for identifying and reviewing residents who should be prioritised for receiving aid. 

Around 80,000 households received VNĐ2.8 trillion ($123 million) in housing aid in the first phase of the project, which was implemented from 2013 to 2016.

Increased allowances

Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc has agreed to raise the allowance of organisations and individuals that work towards the search for the remains of fallen soldiers.

The allowance for those who work in the country and abroad has been increased from VNĐ280,000 ($12) to VNĐ500,000 ($22) per person, to be paid twice a year.

Those that are directly involved in the process of searching, excavating and collecting fallen soldiers’ remains in the country will have their allowance increased from VNĐ100,000 ($4.4) to VNĐ220,000 ($9.7) per person per working day.

Apart from salary, allowance and other benefits, members of steering committees, task force groups and specialised committees at all levels will receive VNĐ220,000 as subsistence allowance per person per working day.

People who provide information about the remains of fallen soldiers will receive VNĐ3-10 million ($132-440), depending on the number of soldiers’ remains collected. — VNS