Building a mechanism to prevent profiteering from social housing policies

Hanoi National Assembly delegation discussed in groups on the morning of May 21. Photo: Nhu Y

Need to expand the target group of social housing tenants

Delegate Nguyen Huu Dan ( Quang Tri Delegation) said that the draft Resolution is an important step forward, opening up many new opportunities to meet the urgent housing needs of the people, especially low-income and disadvantaged groups. However, due to its new nature and great influence, we need to raise warnings about the risk of loopholes arising in the implementation process. "I propose that the draft Resolution should add provisions assigning the Government to develop prevention and strict control mechanisms, not allowing the situation of policy profiteering to occur, both protecting State assets and ensuring the quality and effectiveness of the Resolution's implementation," the delegate expressed.

Delegate Nguyen Huu Dan also proposed adding a very practical content, which is to expand the scope of social housing rental for cadres, civil servants and public employees in localities implementing administrative unit mergers. This will help cadres and civil servants stabilize their residence and feel secure in their dedication.

Meanwhile, according to delegate Nguyen Huu Thong ( Binh Thuan Delegation), most social housing projects enjoy great incentives in terms of land, finance, taxes, infrastructure, etc. Therefore, determining selling prices and rental prices must be associated with clear and transparent accountability and certain supervision from the State.

“I propose to amend and supplement Article 8, in the direction of classifying projects to apply appropriate pricing mechanisms; adding the obligation to publicly disclose price structures in the direction that investors must list selling prices, lease-purchase prices, along with a detailed table of component costs, standard profits, and incentives enjoyed, so that people and competent authorities can monitor together. Provincial People's Committees need to develop a standard price list, as a basis for comparison with the prices proposed by investors; more strictly regulate the responsibility for refunding price differences after auditing; apply digital technology to monitor pricing”, delegate Nguyen Huu Thong proposed.

Proposal to supplement regulations on the National Housing Fund

Delegate Hoang Van Cuong (Hanoi Delegation) commented that the draft Resolution has many very progressive points, such as removing regulations on appraisal and approval of feasible projects, pre-feasibility projects, planning policies, etc.

Delegate Hoang Van Cuong (Hanoi Delegation) speaks at the discussion group. Photo: Nhu Y

Regarding the National Housing Fund, delegate Hoang Van Cuong strongly agreed that this fund must be established. Raising the issue of where the money for this fund comes from, according to the delegate, for commercial housing projects, there is a regulation that 2% of the land fund must be reserved for social housing. If the investor does not build social housing, they can pay an amount of money equivalent to the land area for social housing into the National Housing Fund.

Also interested in the establishment of the National Housing Fund, delegate Nguyen Thi Le (Ho Chi Minh City Delegation) said that the regulations on the National Housing Fund do not clearly show the management agency, organizational model, revenue sources, and spending tasks. "Therefore, it is necessary to supplement and clarify the contents of the regulations on the National Housing Fund. The Resolution needs to fully stipulate the framework contents to serve as a basis for the Government to issue a detailed Decree," delegate Nguyen Thi Le suggested.

Delegate Nguyen Thi Le (Ho Chi Minh City Delegation) speaks at the discussion group. Photo: PV

According to delegate Nguyen Thi Le, if the fund is established at both the central and local levels, it is necessary to define the functions and tasks of the fund at each level to ensure the mobilization of resources and the implementation of appropriate expenditures at each level. In particular, in addition to establishing a social housing fund, the National Housing Fund also has the function of investing in the construction and creation of "housing for officials, civil servants, public employees, and workers to rent or purchase", which is not social housing. The issuance of this regulation needs to clarify the subjects of housing for civil servants, public employees, and workers to rent or purchase, because this regulation does not define any type of housing according to the housing law.

Commenting on this content, delegate Vu Thi Luu Mai (Hanoi Delegation) suggested that it is necessary to clarify the legal status, resources, usage mechanism, and management responsibilities of the fund, and that this fund must be fully inspected and audited to ensure efficiency in the use of resources.

According to delegate Vu Thi Luu Mai, the draft Resolution needs to include an impact assessment, as this is a policy that has a major impact on the socio-economy, especially on the people. In addition, according to the delegate, in terms of procedures, along with simplifying procedures, specific conditions need to be set out. For example, when a social housing project applies a simplified process such as not going through bidding but implementing a designated bid, it is necessary to add the responsibility of the designated bidder. Regarding beneficiaries, there needs to be clear criteria for selecting beneficiaries and a priority order to avoid taking advantage of the policy. Each social housing policy must be accurate, correct and reach those who deserve to benefit.

“

Also in the morning discussion session on May 21, National Assembly deputies gave their opinions on the Draft Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on the Vietnam Fatherland Front, the Law on Trade Unions, the Law on Youth and the Law on Grassroots Democracy Implementation; the Draft Resolution of the National Assembly replacing Resolution No. 35/2021/QH15 dated November 13, 2021 of the National Assembly on piloting a number of specific mechanisms and policies for the development of Hai Phong city; the Resolution on piloting the People's Procuracy initiating civil lawsuits to protect the civil rights of vulnerable groups or to protect public interests...

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/xay-dung-co-che-ngan-chan-truc-loi-chinh-sach-nha-o-xa-hoi-702993.html