Minister of Transport requested to ensure the fastest delivery of goods to people in the southern provinces.

The directive was given at an online meeting on ensuring freight transport activities between the Ministry of Transport and 22 southern provinces held on the evening of July 17.

Reporting at the meeting, Mr. Nguyen Van Huyen, Director General of the Vietnam Road Administration, said that by the end of July 17, 19 provinces and cities had announced their local “green lanes” for goods circulation. Goods transportation activities on the routes were basically smooth.

The local congestion only occurred at 8:30-9:00 a.m. at the National Highway 22 checkpoint in the direction from Ho Chi Minh City to Tay Ninh. Immediately after that, local Departments of Transport urgently regulated and diverted traffic to return the traffic flow to a clear one.

Currently, while waiting for the General Department of Roads to complete the software for managing and issuing travel permits (expected to be completed on July 19), the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport said that this agency is still coordinating and supporting other Departments of Transport in issuing travel permits via QR codes for businesses and vehicles that need to travel to and from Ho Chi Minh City and between localities. As of 12:00 on July 17, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport has issued QR codes to 1,052 vehicles. Accumulated to the time of reporting, 33,752 vehicles have been issued to 62 units.

Regarding the implementation of the “green channel” waterway transport, the representative of the Vietnam Register said that the work is being carried out very urgently. On July 18, the Vietnam Register will issue certificates of inspection and conversion of functions for high-speed tourist boats so that on the morning of July 19, the first shipment by waterway from Tien Giang to Ho Chi Minh City will be carried out.

To be ready when the provinces implement social distancing according to Directive 16 from 0:00 on July 19, the Minister of Transport requested that the agencies under the Ministry be ready to contact 24/7, promptly receive recommendations and notifications from localities and be ready to coordinate to deploy freight transport plans as quickly as possible, ensuring the goal of bringing essential goods to people as quickly and completely as possible.

Goods donated by Nghe An people to support Ho Chi Minh City people. Photo: PV

Recognizing that road freight transport is the most flexible and dominant form of transport today, the Minister requested that the Vietnam Road Administration work online with 63 Departments of Transport nationwide on the morning of July 18 to unify the traffic plan and the application of medical regulations for drivers traveling between provinces and cities in the area applying Directive 16.

The General Department of Roads is responsible for unifying plans, providing specific regulations and promptly providing guidance to businesses, drivers, and vehicles transporting goods, supplies, and relief goods from other provinces and regions to and from provinces and regions applying Directive 16. At the same time, it is recommended that localities be ready to issue travel permits and support drivers to get tested for COVID-19 as quickly and conveniently as possible.

Regarding the fact that many localities in the Central region have expressed their readiness to receive citizens from epidemic areas to their localities, the Minister of Transport requested that localities discuss, reach an agreement, and report to the National Steering Committee for Epidemic Prevention and Control to stipulate and provide specific instructions on subjects, travel conditions, epidemiological conditions, appropriate forms and types of transportation, etc.

Donated goods from Uncle Ho's hometown were transported by container by waterway to give to the people of Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Thu Huong

In particular, Minister Nguyen Van The affirmed: The Ministry of Transport is ready to direct relevant units to develop plans and arrange vehicles to serve the transportation and reception of citizens from epidemic areas to localities when requested.

In the face of the complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the goal of protecting and taking care of people's health as the top priority, based on the proposal of the Minister of Health and the consensus of the Government Standing Committee, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh signed Official Dispatch No. 969/TTg-KGVX dated July 17, 2021 on implementing social distancing to prevent and control the pandemic in a number of localities.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh agreed to apply social distancing measures across the province and city as prescribed in Directive No. 16/CT-TTg of the Prime Minister for the following localities: Along with Ho Chi Minh City and the provinces: Binh Duong, Dong Nai have implemented, adding Can Tho city and the provinces: Binh Phuoc, Tay Ninh, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Tien Giang, Long An, Vinh Long, Dong Thap, Ben Tre, Hau Giang, An Giang, Bac Lieu, Soc Trang, Tra Vinh, Ca Mau, Kien Giang.

The period of social distancing is 14 days.

The time to start applying social distancing measures for the above-mentioned additional provinces and cities shall be decided by the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, but no later than 0:00 on July 19, 2021.