http://www.baodautu.vn: Socialization to increase resources and avoid natural disasters

Photo: Mr. Phan Van Quy – Chairman of Pacific Corporation,

Member of the Legal Committee of the National Assembly

Do you have any recommendations, comments on the draft Law on prevention and mitigation of natural disasters in this Congress?

In my opinion, the Law on disaster prevention and mitigation should complement the content of international cooperation on disaster prevention (Article 11). Accordingly, to encourage organizations and individuals for international support for disaster prevention in Vietnam.

In addition, the State's policy in the field of disaster prevention, the content should include: "The State shall adopt policies to encourage the development and expansion of areas where socialization model has given good results in the work of natural disaster prevention, avoidance and mitigation."

We can fully integrate the activities of non-governmental organizations, the social model of high efficiency in the national program to prevent, avoid and mitigate natural disasters. In doing so, the State is able to save resources and the model of socialization in the work of disaster prevention, avoidance and mitigation can be multiplied effectively helping people avoid from suffering storms, floods.  

As a representative for voters in Nghe An province, a local area suffered damages caused by natural disasters, how do you evaluate the role of socialization of resources in natural disaster prevention, avoidance and mitigation?

It is shown that promotion of the strength of the community in the prevention and mitigation of natural disasters is not only the obligations and responsibilities of people; it also attracts huge resources in society and encourages the creativity of the community in the prevention, avoidance and mitigation of natural disasters.

Recently, Vietnam has attracted the majority of the international community, non-governmental organizations at home and abroad to participate in the disaster prevention. In the process, there are several models of socialization activities with innovative and effective practices for people in the area subject to storm and flood.

Photo: Ground breaking ceremony of Ham Thang 3 primary school (Ham Thuan Bac, Binh Thuan province)

by the Central Vietnam Disaster Prevention Support Fund called for the fund-raising.

Could you tell us more specific activities of the Central Vietnam Disaster Prevention Support Fund?

After three years of establishment, the Central Vietnam Disaster Prevention Support Fund has focused on activities such as: building health clinics, schools, community rooms to avoid storm, flood; establishment of the local rescue team; organization of training courses, free allocation of rescue equipment for the rescue teams; resettlement planning for people living in these areas suffering by natural disasters....The activities are intially effective which have been recognized by the government and people of 14 central coastal provinces  from Thanh Hoa to Binh Thuan.

Socialization to avoid natural disasters in our country is still in a small scale, while this work requires huge resources. So, what should be the development model in order to achieve the highest efficiency?

This is a limitation which should be removed. At the Central Vietnam Disaster Prevention Support Fund, though most of the activities were initially successful, the government and people of the locality have recognized the efforts, expansion and multiply the model face some difficulties due to limited resources. Therefore, instead of the expected great scale from the socialization model, it is necessary to choose the specific, reasonable size to focus on developing efficient replication.