Discussing the draft law on natural disaster prevention and control and science and technology

Continuing the 4th session of the 13th National Assembly, on the afternoon of November 8, delegates discussed in groups the draft Law on Natural Disaster Prevention, Avoidance & Mitigation and the draft Law on Science & Technology (amended).

National Assembly delegate of Vinh Phuc province Le Thi Nguyet speaks.
(Photo: Nguyen Dan/VNA)

Strengthening State management in natural disaster prevention and control activities

Delegates all agreed on the necessity of promulgating the Law to perfect the legal framework for natural disaster prevention, response and recovery, strengthen State management, and the effectiveness of natural disaster prevention and control activities, contributing to sustainable socio-economic development and ensuring national security and defense.

The delegate also emphasized that the promulgation of the Law contributes to internalizing the provisions of international treaties to which Vietnam is a member and clearly demonstrates the innovative viewpoint of the Party and State of Vietnam in natural disaster prevention and control, from focusing on response in the past to preventing and managing natural disaster risks in a process, in accordance with international law on natural disaster prevention and control.

Regarding the name, the majority of delegates proposed to name the law "Law on Natural Disaster Prevention and Control" because this name is concise, complete, and comprehensively covers issues in natural disaster prevention and control activities; at the same time, reflects and summarizes the most common features of the nature, content and purpose of promulgating the Law.

Many delegates also said that the basic principle in natural disaster prevention is that the State must play a leading role, and cannot only "support" in natural disaster prevention and control as stipulated in the draft law, especially in building capacity for monitoring, forecasting, warning of natural disasters, mobilizing resources, organizing response activities, rescue, and overcoming damage caused by natural disasters, supporting people to overcome the consequences of natural disasters, and compensating people for participating in natural disaster prevention and control.

Delegate Hoang Dang Quang (Quang Binh) emphasized that it is necessary to clearly define the role of the State in natural disaster prevention and control, mainly to attach responsibility to the authorities at all levels. Authorities at all levels must directly command the work of natural disaster prevention and control; at the same time, they must integrate the contents of natural disaster prevention and control into the State's socio-economic development strategies and plans.

The delegate also said that the Law needs to supplement provisions stipulating: The State has a synchronous policy on investment, resource mobilization and solutions to organize the implementation of natural disaster prevention work; regulations on residential land planning for households in vulnerable areas affected by natural disasters; strengthening rescue means for people when natural disasters occur; having a mechanism to mobilize resources to repair and build key natural disaster prevention works; clarifying the responsibilities of armed forces and agencies in search and rescue...

Regarding regulations on financial resources for natural disaster prevention activities, delegate Le Minh Trong (Tay Ninh) said that the State needs to estimate the annual budget for natural disaster prevention activities to ensure adequate and timely central and local budgets for this task so that the management and use of this funding source can be proactive, purposeful and effective.

The issue of forecasting natural disasters is also of interest to many delegates. According to delegate Dinh Thi Huong Lan (Cao Bang), the issue of forecasting natural disasters is extremely important. If the forecast is correct, damage can be minimized, so the Law needs to clearly stipulate the agency responsible for researching and making accurate forecasts of natural disasters.

Agreeing with the above opinion, delegate Hoang Dang Quang (Quang Binh) suggested adding a regulation: the agency in charge of forecasting must be responsible for the warnings, forecasts, and assessments it makes.

Delegate Ha Ngoc Chien (Cao Bang) also said that it is necessary to improve capacity, ensure accurate warnings, and timely information about natural disasters, storms, floods, tsunamis, etc. for forecasting teams.

Create unity and synchronization of legal documents on science and technology

The current Law on Science and Technology was issued 12 years ago. Up to now, the Law has revealed a number of shortcomings in both content and form of documents. Many provisions are no longer suitable to the current practice and legal system; many provisions and clauses are still general, with low legal enforcement effectiveness.

The majority of delegates said that the amended and supplemented Law on Science and Technology will create unity and synchronization of legal documents on science and technology; meeting the process of innovation and international integration. However, delegates suggested that the drafting committee continue to research and review the provisions in the draft Law to ensure feasibility, suitability with practice, clarity, transparency, and create a unified understanding to facilitate implementation.

Delegate Hoang Dang Quang (Quang Binh) and delegate Ha Ngoc Chien (Cao Bang) suggested that the draft Law needs to concretize major viewpoints on science and technology development in the spirit of Resolution 5 of the Central Committee; more clearly demonstrate the Party's greatest policy and the State's policy of ensuring "science and technology development is the top national policy"...

According to delegate Dinh Thi Huong Lan (Cao Bang), in reality, during the 12 years of implementing the Law, the State has invested a lot in science and technology work, but there is still a situation where many individuals and organizations use the investment money for other purposes in the name of scientific research, leading to many projects being "shelved" and unable to be applied in practice.

Delegates suggested that in order for the Law on Science and Technology (amended) to come into effect, it is necessary to focus on amending the conditions for developing projects of truly scientific quality; strictly regulating the assessment of the quality of scientific research projects, focusing on investing in quality projects, and encouraging and creating conditions for individuals to conduct scientific research.

Delegate Dinh Thi Huong Lan said that the State needs to have a more tolerant view towards intellectuals and scientists abroad who wish to contribute to the development of science in the country as well as create conditions for domestic knowledge to be exchanged in a multicultural environment, to exchange and learn from experiences in developed countries around the world.

Agreeing with this opinion, delegate Hoang Dang Quang (Quang Binh) has policies and mechanisms for preferential treatment of leading scientists and talented young scientists; regulations on mechanisms to attract resources and scientific experts who are Vietnamese people abroad and foreigners in Vietnam to participate in major scientific projects...

Delegates also spent a lot of time discussing science and technology organizations; financial and credit mechanisms for science and technology activities; and State management responsibilities in the field of science and technology.../.

According to (TTXVN)-LT