At the end of March 2023, District 1 People's Committee proposed to Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee to socialize investment in public toilets (NVSCC) at 5 land plots where projects have not been implemented in the district.
Take advantage of "golden land"
Specifically, the project land at 8-12 Le Duan and 2-4-6 Hai Ba Trung is managed by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (TN-MT); the project land at 8 Nguyen Trung Truc is managed by the People's Committee of District 1; the Tax Trade Center project land at 135 Nguyen Hue of Saigon Trading Corporation Limited (SATRA) has not yet been implemented; the project land for the expansion of the Majestic Hotel at 2-4-6 Nguyen Hue of Saigon Tourist Corporation Limited ( Saigontourist ) is temporarily suspended.
Of which, for the 2 land plots managed by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, District 1 proposed that the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee assign this department to direct the Land Fund Development Center to hand over to the District People's Committee a temporary use of part of the area to arrange for investors to build NVSCC and will return it as soon as the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee has instructions.
Project land at 8-12 Le Duan
Regarding the two land plots currently managed by enterprises, the People's Committee of District 1 proposed that the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City direct SATRA and Saigontourist to approve the temporary use of part of the area to coordinate with investors to build NVSCC and return it when these enterprises have a need to use the premises.
In early April 2023, Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Nguyen Toan Thang sent a document to the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee expressing his support for the proposal of the District 1 People's Committee. More than a week later, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Bui Xuan Cuong issued a document approving the proposal and directing District 1 to work with the investor on construction commitments.
Changing the face of the downtown area
Speaking to a reporter from Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper, Mr. Vu Nguyen Quang Vinh, Vice Chairman of District 1 People's Committee, said that he had implemented the tasks after receiving the agreement of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment and the direction of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee.
Regarding the land of the Tax Trade Center project at 135 Nguyen Hue, District 1 has discussed with SATRA. This unit responded that the HCM City People's Committee approved the proposal of District 1 but has not yet given official instructions so SATRA is waiting. As for the land at 2-4-6 Nguyen Hue, Saigontourist responded that the project will soon be implemented... Therefore, from 5 locations, District 1 has 4 locations left in the plan to build NVSCC.
Public toilet at 8 Nguyen Trung Truc is about to come into operation.
Up to now, 2 investors, the Vietnam Toilet Association and Tien Phong Technology Joint Stock Company, have participated in the draw to install NVSCC at 4 land plots. Tien Phong Technology Joint Stock Company won 2 land plots managed by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, while the Vietnam Toilet Association implemented the installation at the remaining 2 locations.
District 1 has many shops, hotels, and shopping malls, so it is very convenient to mobilize these places to support toilets for residents and tourists. In March, District 1 mobilized 100 restaurants and cafes to provide free toilets for visitors and residents.
According to Mr. Vu Nguyen Quang Vinh, after the draw, the units started working to soon put these points into service for the people and tourists. Up to now, the public restroom at 8 Nguyen Trung Truc has been installed and is about to be put into operation.
The investor spent more than 500 million VND for a public restroom with a mixed compartment for both men and women. A cabin will be installed on a plot of land with a foundation, electricity and water. "Having a construction site is difficult, having money is even more difficult. The state budget does not invest but must be socialized, but the advantage is that the amount of money is not large" - Vice Chairman of District 1 People's Committee said about the public restrooms installed in "golden land" locations.
Mr. Vu Nguyen Quang Vinh also said that the public restroom at Phong Chau Park (Pham Viet Chanh - Nguyen Thi Minh Khai street) started construction on March 20 and was put into operation by District 1 Public Service Company Limited at the end of April. This public restroom cost 420 million VND with 5 compartments, including one for the disabled.
According to the reporter's investigation, the addition of public restrooms in District 1 in particular and Ho Chi Minh City in general has received much support from residents and tourists. Among them, Mr. Hoang Nghia Ly (residing in Thu Duc City) said that on weekends he often goes to public places with his children and grandchildren for entertainment, and the most common problem is "relieving sadness".
"I see many areas of land being wasted. If we build a public park, even if it is temporary, it will bring many values. Among those values, there is the affirmation of the government's thoughtfulness towards the people and tourists" - Mr. Hoang Nghia Ly expressed.
Pay due attention
At the working session with the People's Committee of District 1 in mid-March 2023, Politburo member and Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen emphasized the need to place public services in line with essential and important needs. There should be attention, investment and management of public services in line with the city's goals, which are civilized - modern - humane. In the long term, it is necessary to continue to review and inspect the synchronicity and science in the implementation of public services in District 1. In particular, synchronization in planning, construction, environment, traffic, and culture.
The Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee requested to review and re-examine the entire existing but inactive public toilet system for repair and re-operation. In addition, a plan to quickly install mobile toilets in necessary locations must be made.
3 groups of solutions
Recently, Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Bui Xuan Cuong assigned the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, based on reports from departments, branches, Thu Duc City People's Committee and districts, to synthesize and propose investment in construction and management of public toilets in 3 groups.
Group 1 - Existing public sanitation facilities (at parks, markets, bus stations, public areas) should study and propose improving the quality of environmental sanitation to ensure service for residents and tourists.
Group 2 - planned new construction. This group needs to specify the planned location, area scale, investment value, investment method and management and operation method, toilet model design, and legal basis.
Group 3 - toilets of business establishments, shops, eateries, restaurants, hotels... In this group, relevant departments, branches, Thu Duc City People's Committee and districts are assigned to continue to mobilize support, creating conditions for people and tourists to use for free.
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