On the morning of September 21, in response to information on social networks claiming that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development was managing VND2,000 billion of the Natural Disaster Prevention Fund, a representative of the Department of Dyke Management and Natural Disaster Prevention spoke up to clarify.

Director Pham Duc Luan said the information spreading on social networks is incorrect.

"Due to difficulties in the operating model, the Central Disaster Prevention Fund has not been able to operate yet, so the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development does not manage the money. The remaining fund of more than VND 2,000 billion is managed by the People's Committees of 63 provinces and cities. The responsibility for publicizing the revenue and expenditure of this fund will be the responsibility of the Chairman of the People's Committees of the provinces and cities," Mr. Pham Duc Luan informed.

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Storm Yagi caused heavy damage in Quang Ninh province. Photo: Thach Thao

The representative of the Department of Dike Management and Natural Disaster Prevention and Control added that the fund was established and operated in accordance with the provisions of the Law on Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and Decree 78/2021/ND-CP. This is a non-budget state financial fund, operating not for profit. The fund includes the Central Natural Disaster Prevention and Control Fund managed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the provincial natural disaster prevention and control fund managed by the provincial People's Committee.

In which, the revenue of the provincial fund includes: Support and voluntary contributions from domestic and foreign organizations and individuals; compulsory contributions from domestic and foreign economic organizations in the area (minimum 500 thousand VND, maximum 100 million VND); Vietnamese citizens from 18 years old to retirement age under normal working conditions according to the provisions of the law on labor; regulation from the central fund and between provincial funds; interest from deposit accounts; other legal sources (if any) and the remaining provincial fund at the end of the previous year is carried over to the following year.

According to statistics from the Department of Dyke Management and Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, the provincial Natural Disaster Prevention and Control Fund was established and operated since 2014. As of September 20, 2024, 63/63 provinces and cities collected 5,925 billion VND, spent 3,686 billion VND, and had a fund surplus of 2,263 billion VND.

All fund revenues during the year (including interest from deposit accounts) will be spent on supporting disaster prevention and control activities in the province and city. Currently, after suffering damage caused by storm No. 3 in 2024, some localities plan to use the Disaster Prevention and Control Fund to overcome the consequences, specifically: Lao Cai 5 billion VND, Hai Phong 50 billion VND, Dien Bien 3 billion VND, Yen Bai 13 billion VND, Thai Nguyen 10 billion VND. Other provinces are synthesizing the damage, reviewing and proposing to use the fund.

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Soldiers search for victims in Lao Cai. Photo: Thach Thao

Regarding the authority to spend the fund, the provincial People's Committee shall specify the spending content and spending levels of the provincial fund in Article 16 of Decree 78 at the request of the provincial Fund management agency. The Chairman of the provincial, district and commune People's Committee shall decide on the spending content and spending levels for performing the task of natural disaster prevention and control. Carry out the transfer to the central fund according to the decision of the Prime Minister or to other local provincial funds according to the decision of the Chairman of the provincial People's Committee.

"From the regulations on financial resources and the above-mentioned fund expenditures, it can be seen that if a province has little damage from natural disasters in the year, it will not have to use much of the province's natural disaster prevention and control fund, leading to a large fund surplus. However, when a natural disaster suddenly occurs, causing great damage to the locality, the use of the natural disaster prevention and control fund for disaster prevention, response and recovery activities is really necessary and meaningful. At the same time, provinces with remaining funds can make advances or support other provinces according to the decision of the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee. Thus, the amount of fund surplus at the end of the year depends on the annual natural disaster situation in the locality," the Department of Dike Management and Natural Disaster Prevention affirmed.