More than 30,000 poor households in the northern midland province of Phu Tho have benefited from preferential loans to build nearly 60,000 water supply and sanitation facilities. Since the beginning of this year, the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies has loaned VND4.1 billion (about $195,200) under a rural water supply and sanitation program in Phu Tho. As many as 622 water and 637 sanitation facilities have been built. So far, the loans have secured access to clean water for over 36.2% of rural population in Phu Tho, 20.9% higher than that in 2010. Phu Tho is among eight provinces that have benefited from the rural water supply and sanitation program funded by the World Bank in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. It is striving for clean water for 65% of the rural population by 2020. (vietnamplus.vn Oct 29)
