Focus on post-control
(Baonghean) - On the morning of June 25, the 9th session of the 13th National Assembly voted to pass the Resolution on the investment policy for the Long Thanh Airport construction project with 86.64% of delegates in favor. An overwhelming percentage compared to those who disagreed or were still hesitant, did not press the button. The debates and arguments about whether or not to build this airport officially ended here. The only remaining concern is how to successfully build this project at a reasonable cost, without delays and especially without cost overruns.
The reason for saying so is because in fact, over the years, any large-scale project has repeated the refrain “slow, slow”. For example, the Hanoi - Hai Phong expressway has increased its capital by 21 trillion VND. The Cat Linh - Ha Dong elevated railway project (Hanoi) has been delayed for years and increased its capital by 318 million USD... Not to mention, the investment rate for our projects, for some reason, is always the highest in the world. For example, the price of one kilometer of the Ben Luc - Long Thanh expressway is up to 554 billion VND, the highest in the world. With an investment of more than 16 billion USD, if the Long Thanh Airport project continues to repeat the refrain “slow, slow” and sets another record for price, it is unknown how much more money will be spent. But it will certainly be a huge amount and at that time, we do not know where to get it from. The more we think about it, the more uneasy we feel. Even though, before pressing the button, the National Assembly delegates raised many opinions and requested to increase publicity, transparency, accountability, have solutions to save, prevent waste, loss, and negativity in the investment process, prevent interest groups from dominating the project implementation process; ensure investment rate, quality, and technology equivalent to other modern airports in the region; ensure operational human resources, competitiveness, and require socio-economic efficiency... And the "commander" of the Transport sector also boldly promised, "In the coming time, we will continue to take steps towards publicity and transparency to prevent loss, waste, and negativity in the project implementation process."
But making a promise is one thing, and doing it is another. Because there have been countless times when the “commanders” promised in front of the public that they would be determined in this way, resolute in that way. But then “words fly away” and many things and problems that have caused public outrage over the past years are still intact. Not to mention, the investment in building Long Thanh Airport was divided into many phases. By the time the coffin was ready to be put into operation, the people who pressed the button that day were no longer sitting in the National Assembly to press the button but had retired. Even the Minister, at that time, was no longer in his position at the Ministry of Transport, so whether that promise would come true or not, at this point, it was difficult to predict for sure.
Saying that, it is not to fall into skepticism but to come to a conclusion: Once decided, it must be done. But to do it, we must focus on doing a good job of post-control. That is, closely checking and monitoring each step, each part, each stage of project implementation. So that today's warnings, suggestions, recommendations and promises are not quickly ignored and forgotten. So that the refrain of "slow, fast" and waste is not repeated.
Duy Huong
