Provincial People's Committee responds to suggestions on homeland construction after the environmental incident in the central coastal region

(Baonghean.vn)- On August 29, 2016, Nghe An Newspaper in the forum "Contributing ideas to build the homeland" published the article "Two proposals to the People's Committee of Nghe An province after the disaster in the central sea" by author Pham Xuan Can. After the newspaper published, the Provincial People's Committee issued Official Letter No. 6539/UBND-VX dated September 6, 2006 in response.

In the article published in Nghe An newspaper, author Pham Xuan Can recommended: “How Nghe An’s marine environment is affected must be studied and analyzed. How Nghe An’s socio-economic situation is damaged must be measured and statistically recorded. These important issues cannot be ignored, or only qualitative speculation without scientific basis.” Accordingly, there are 02 contents that the author proposed to the Provincial People’s Committee:

- Immediately direct the relevant authorities to research, analyze and evaluate the aquaculture, fishing and processing seafood products of Nghe An. Thereby, evaluate the quality and safety, and announce it to the public.

At the same time, the province needs to tighten state management activities on food hygiene and safety for Nghe An's seafood; consider these as important solutions to protect consumers, while protecting Nghe An's safe seafood products.

Staff from the Center for Natural Resources and Environment Monitoring sealed seawater samples and quickly measured parameters of PH, temperature, salt, turbidity, and DO right on the spot.

- Order a scientific topic immediately to survey, investigate, and evaluate the current environmental status caused by Formosa recently. At the same time, assess the socio-economic damage of Nghe An due to the impact of the recent environmental disaster caused by FMS. On that basis, propose immediate response solutions as well as strategies for sustainable socio-economic development of Nghe An's coastal and marine areas in the future.

On this issue, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee has the following opinion:

1. The People's Committee of Nghe An province welcomes and thanks Mr. Pham Xuan Can for his comments on the impact of the environmental incident caused by Formosa on the marine environment and socio-economic development of Nghe An province. This is the content that has been directed by the leaders of Nghe An province, the functional agencies of the province according to their assigned tasks have proactively researched, handled and are continuing to research, monitor and handle seriously and promptly. Specifically:

- Regarding food safety management: The provincial leaders and authorities at all levels regularly urge implementation (Documents of the Provincial People's Committee: Official Dispatch No. 3364/UBND-VX dated May 19, 2016 on strengthening state management responsibility for food safety; Notice No. 320/TBUBND dated June 8, 2016; Official Dispatch No. 5794/UBND-VX dated August 10, 2016;...). The competent authorities actively and proactively implement, periodically report to the Provincial People's Committee on the implementation results and propose handling of cases of concern.

Since the environmental incident caused by Formosa was announced, food safety management of seafood products in the province has received close attention.

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has directed the Department of Agricultural, Forestry and Fishery Product Quality Management to coordinate with relevant agencies, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development/Economic Departments of districts and towns to coordinate in inspecting and certifying the safety of offshore seafood so that fishermen and consumers can feel secure in exploiting and consuming safe seafood (Official Dispatch No. 030./SNN-QLCL dated May 5, 2016 of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development).

At the same time, establish a team to inspect and supervise the import of aquatic raw materials at wholesale markets, purchasing, production and processing facilities of aquatic products in the province (Decision No. 33/QD-CCQLTT dated April 26, 2016 of the Department of Agricultural, Forestry and Fishery Product Quality Management).

Seawater samples taken on May 16, 2016 were transferred to the laboratory, transferred to test tubes, and put into a modern specialized machine system for analysis.

- Issues of identification and information on Nghe An marine environment: Nghe An marine environment monitoring activities are periodically carried out by specialized agencies and summarized and reported to the Provincial People's Committee and competent agencies according to the provisions of law.

According to monitoring results, the coastal seawater quality parameters at Cua Lo and Cua Hoi tourist beaches are all within the permissible limits of the National Technical Regulation on coastal seawater QCVN 10-MT:2015/BTNMT for bathing and water sports areas.

Staff at the Environmental Monitoring Center are testing the oxygen content in seawater samples.

- Regarding the damage caused by the Formosa incident in Nghe An province: The Provincial People's Committee has directed relevant agencies to coordinate with the People's Committees of coastal districts and towns to compile statistics, evaluate, and summarize reports on the damage to the Provincial People's Committee.

On July 4, 2016, the Provincial People's Committee issued Report No. 124/BC-UBND to the Prime Minister on the damage caused by the mass death of seafood in the Central Coast of Nghe An Province up to June 30, 2016; On that basis, the Government Office issued Document No. 1498/VPCP-KTN dated July 21, 2016 to notify the Prime Minister's direction to assign the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to propose support to overcome the damage for Nghe An Province.

2. Thus, for the above 02 proposals of Mr. Pham Xuan, the units, functional branches and local authorities in the province have been and are regularly implementing them. Specifically:

- The Department of Natural Resources and Environment continues to direct specialized agencies to monitor marine environmental indicators according to the direction of the Provincial People's Committee, synthesize reports to the Provincial People's Committee and relevant agencies for timely research and handling; At the same time, widely publicize on mass media (Nghe An Newspaper, Provincial Radio - Television Station, Nghe An Electronic Information Portal...) for people to know and follow.

-The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development continues to strengthen food safety management for seafood products in the province.

- The Department of Science and Technology has been assigned to preside over and coordinate with the Department of Health to advise the Provincial People's Committee to develop and implement the scientific and technological task "Assessing the current status of food safety in the province" (Official Dispatch No. 5794/UBND-%vx dated August 10, 2016 of the Provincial People's Committee on assigning the preparation of contents in the field of food safety) to serve the direction, operation and state management of food safety in a realistic and effective manner, including studying the current status of food safety for seafood in Nghe An sea area after the environmental pollution incident caused by Formosa.

- In parallel with organizing, researching and proposing scientific solutions for planning, directing and operating in the field of food safety and hygiene management, in protecting and effectively exploiting aquatic resources and marine tourism in the area, the Provincial People's Committee continues to direct the Directors of the Departments of Health; Agriculture and Rural Development; Culture, Sports and Tourism; Science and Technology; relevant units and Chairmen of the People's Committees of districts, cities and towns to strictly implement the direction of the Central Government and the Provincial People's Committee on ensuring food safety, ensuring the marine environment and the environment for tourism development in the province.

Above is the response of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee to Mr. Pham Xuan Can's comments in Nghe An Newspaper issued on August 29, 2016./.

Provincial People's Committee