More than 90 percent of lawmakers voted on Nov. 10 to adopt theResolution on State budget estimates for 2012 which targets a totalspending of more than 903 trillion VND (43.3 billion USD).
Of the amount, expenditure for development investment is expected to be180 trillion VND (8.6 billion USD), and for socio-economic development,national defence, security and administrative management, be 542trillion VND (26 billion USD).
The total State budget revenue is expected to be 740.5 trillion VND (35.5 billion USD).
Under the resolution, minimum wage levels for public servants willincrease to 1.05 million VND (49 USD) from May next year from thecurrent 830,000 VND (39 USD).
An estimated 45 trillion VND(2.1 billion USD) worth of Government bonds will be issued in 2012 forinvestment in important traffic, irrigation, health care and educationprojects permitted by the National Assembly.
The NAentrusted the Government to continue tightened monetary policy,restructure State budget expenditures, adjust expenditure mechanisms fordevelopment investment to promote economic growth, draw more investmentfrom different sectors, and ensure an appropriate rate of budgetexpenditure for education and training, science and technology, cultureand information, environmental protection and health care.
The Government will enhance management over the State budgetexpenditure, particularly expenditure for infrastructure construction,and national target programmes to prevent loss, wastefulness andcorruption.
NA Committees will be in charge of supervising the State budget estimates.
Later the same day, NA deputies discussed a land use project planned to plant 5 million hectares of forest.
Regarding the land use plan, most deputies agreed that it was necessaryto keep 3.8 million ha of land for rice cultivation to ensure foodsecurity.
Careful consideration of land allocation forindustrial uses, expected to increase to 150,000ha by 2015 from thecurrent 100,000ha, was also necessary.
Deputy Tran Du Lichfrom HCM City said industrial zones currently utilised only 46percent of their allocated land, causing wastefulness.
Deputy Le Van Hoc from Central Highlands Lam Dong province suggested areview of land use by industrial zones and resolutely stamp out onesthat operated ineffectively.
Meanwhile, land allocationfor education development and cultural and entertainment activities foryouth remained limited, he added.
Concerningafforestation, most deputies agreed that the project to plant 5 millionha of forest during the 1998-2010 period had positive results in raisingpublic awareness regarding the importance of planting and protectingforests, protecting the eco-system and creating jobs for people,particularly those in ethnic minority-inhabited areas.
The rate of forest coverage increased to 40 percent last year from 32 percent in 1998.
However, many deputies said there remained shortcomings such as slowland and forest allocation for people, overlapped management andincreasing deforestation as well as illegal wood exploitation and trade.
They proposed more long-term forest development policiesafter the project finished, a renewed forest management model, increasedinspection and the provision of more equipment to forest wardens./.