Yesterday July 31st, at the 8th session of provincial People’s Council tenure VIII, Mr. Le Thanh Cung answered honestly questions of delegates. Allowing budget advance Mr. Cung said, during the first 6 months, provincial budget collection was 49% of year’s estimation, increasing 32% compared to previous term. Budget collection faced difficulties, because of declining economy. Thus the State promulgated tax exemption policies, which affected budget collection. Some localities collected budget revenue cannot satisfy expenditure, causing temporary imbalance. Therefore, since the third quarter, provincial People’s Committee (PPC) has directed provincial financial sector and People’s Committee at localities to examine budget conditions of localities. If local budgets were in trouble, provincial budget gave an advance to localities to ensure regional socio-economic development, salary payment, and expenditure. Mr. Cung informed, on July 22nd, PPC worked with leaders of Ministry of Finance, General Directorate of Tax, General Directorate of Customs to evaluate provincial budget collection of the first 6 months and made projection for the last 6 months. Ministry of Finance leaders appreciated budget collection, determination and suitable direction of provincial leaders. The Ministry also agreed budget mobilization of the province. Regarding to tax arrears addressing, PPC directed financial sector to settle tax arrears in accordance with practical situations in order for enterprises to enhance manufacture, trade, inventory consumption, worker’s life. Determine to revoke slow projects According to Mr. Cung, projects of residential areas have contributed to provincial development. However, because of poor global economy, real estate industry has confronted many difficulties, products cannot be sold, capital for this industry was reduced, and thus some projects have been delayed. Although the province has handled timely problems so that investors could continue their projects, there have been many slow projects affecting surrounding people’s interests. To make good this situation, in June 2013, PPC decided to recall 7 project plans in TDM City because of slow progress. “If projects facing financial troubles had compensated already over 70% of project area, its scale would be adjusted. If projects were appropriate to planning, investors could shift from commercial housing to social housing. Regarding to projects compensating already over 50%, investors were allow to continue to compensate or sell with discount prices, cooperate with other investors to continue the project”, said Mr. Cung. Focus on education, health care    According to Mr. Cung, the province will sent some young physicians to training courses to have a qualified doctor team up to 2020 In terms of demands surplus supply in education, Mr. Cung contended, although the province has annually spent 30 – 40% of total fundamental construction investment from the budget on education, demands have not been satisfied. The province requested the Central to finance through capital of government bonds, national target programs, but results were slow. The province has attempted to mobilize various resources, notably socialization to fund educational, medical development. Regarding to health care’s sector, the government has invested in infrastructure, equipment and in high quality personnel training in order to utilize available resources and improve physician’s knowledge for better service. Currently, progress of medical projects is speeding up, firstly is the project of 1,500-bed General Hospital, specialty hospitals; medical centers at districts by merging general hospital with medical centers and population family planning centers. Additionally, the province will fund to improve quality of health examination at provincial General Hospital and Rehabilitation Hospital. “At present time, the government is constructing University of Medicine at Cong Xanh. Besides, many young physicians were sent to training courses both within and outside the country to create a qualified physician team up to 2020”, said Mr. Cung. Reported by Political Reporters – Translated by Ngoc Huynh