Are there any irregularities in the fee collection system in An Hoa?

(Baonghean) - Waste collection in An Hoa commune (Quynh Luu district) has received widespread support from the local population, resulting in a significant improvement in environmental sanitation. However, the regulations regarding environmental sanitation fees are causing concern among many residents.

On June 10, 2015, the People's Committee of An Hoa commune issued Notice No. 185/TB-UBND regarding the implementation of local budget and fund collection for 2015. One of the "contributions for local development" included a "environmental sanitation fund" with a stipulated collection rate of 3,000 VND/person/month (36,000 VND/person per year); the age range for collection was from 2 to 70 years old.

Many people argue that collecting garbage fees to pay the environmental sanitation company is a type of "environmental service," meaning anyone who disposes of garbage should pay the fee. It cannot be considered an "environmental sanitation fund" that forces all residents (within the specified age range), including those who are not at home and do not generate garbage, to pay (such as collecting environmental sanitation fees from those working away from home or students studying away from home).

Besides the public's view that it is unreasonable for those who are away to still be subject to environmental sanitation fees, the regulation requiring collection a year in advance is also impractical. The number of people living and working in the area is constantly fluctuating; some people may be home today but leave for work tomorrow, while others may be away for months before returning. This is not to mention the elderly and those with terminal illnesses, who cannot be forced to pay environmental sanitation fees for an entire year.

Given the above situation, residents hope that the An Hoa commune authorities will reconsider and adjust the regulations, removing the environmental sanitation fee from local residents who are studying or working away from home, and instead creating a monthly fee collection list. However, to ensure fairness and accurate collection of this fee, residents need to seriously and truthfully declare the number of family members who are present in and out of the area, as well as the duration of their stay, to facilitate fee collection.

Nguyen Hoe

(Quynh Luu)