Corruption, traffic congestion top agenda at monthly govt meeting
The government has gained ground in the fight against bureaucratic corruption, discussed its response to climate change, and sought solutions to traffic congestion as well as identifying measures to sustain strong economic growth.
These were among the issues debated at the government's three-day monthly meeting at the Government Office, which ended on January 23. The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong.
With regard to anti-corruption measures, the cabinet approved a draft Prime Ministerial Decree on the declaration of assets and debts for leading state and administrative officials at various levels, according to a press release from the Government Office issued following the meeting.
The draft decree defines the principles, regulations and measures in relation to such declarations. The move aims to stem corruption and create transparency in both the Party and state administrative structures, and ensure that officials and cadres carry out their duties cleanly.
The cabinet also discussed ways to address the long-standing issue of traffic congestion in Vientiane and gave advice to officials in charge on how to tackle the problem. This included defining new measures in both the short and long term such as the strict enforcement of the traffic regulations and town planning law, as well as drawing up any new legislation necessary.
Officials were also encouraged to clearly identify parking areas and zones where commercial facilities could be built as well as specifying times when specific vehicles can use certain roads, along with improving public transport. In addition, the meeting instructed those in charge to redefine school hours and the working hours of government offices, the press release said.
For the longer term those involved were advised to draw up proper plans when building roads so that the traffic problem could be tackled efficiently.
On climate change, the meeting adopted the second report on climate change, which assessed the situation of greenhouse gas emissions in Laos. The report will be a valuable reference tool for policy makers to formulate policies and prepare measures to cope with and adapt to the changing climate in order to sustain development. This will help Laos to fulfill its obligations to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, to which Laos is a state party.
In addition, the cabinet agreed in principle to adopt the Prime Ministerial Decree on Social Welfare and the report that evaluated the implementation of the Prime Ministerial Decree on State Social Security.
The draft Prime Ministerial Decree on Social Welfare identifies the principles, regulations and measures necessary to activate the social welfare policy for victims of natural and other disasters, and for disadvantaged people.
In an effort to control tobacco usage, the meeting adopted a draft Prime Ministerial decree on the tobacco response fund. The draft decree defined the principles, regulations and management measures needed for the use and audit of the fund in an effort to mobilise funding from both domestic and foreign sources to finance activities for controlling tobacco.
Additionally, the meeting heard and adopted a summary report on the implementation of the socio-economic development plan, currency plan and state budget plan for the 2011-2012 fiscal year, together with reports on the same plans for this fiscal year's first quarter and a forecast for the second quarter.
The cabinet adopted a roadmap and schedule of works planned for the development of Hom and Xaysomboun districts in Vientiane province until 2015.
Notably, former Party Secretary General and President Khamtay Siphandone addressed the meeting, giving development guidance. He suggested that cabinet members make use of lessons learnt in the past to improve their work towards realising the Resolution endorsed at the 9th Party Congress, especially the four breakthrough approaches and the decentralised ‘three builds' strategy.
At the end of the meeting, Prime Minister Thongsing instructed cabinet members to work on the ideas suggested by the former president.
He asked those present to work harder in addressing socially undesirable behaviour and to make every effort to support agricultural production activities this dry season, to boost production on a commercial basis.
