Vietnam’s Ministry of Construction is seeking the government’s approval to spend an estimated VND19 trillion ($904.76 million) on a program to support housing policies for the poor in the 2011-2015 period. Under the Program 167 of Stage 2, the government will continue to support around 500,000 poor families with VND10 million each. Besides, each household can also borrow up to VND15 million at low interest rates, the ministry said.Earlier, Program 167 of Stage 1 had helped resolve housing problems for more than 515,000 poor households, benefiting nearly 2.5 million people.In the first nine months of this year, individuals and organizations at home and abroad contributed over VND4.4 trillion to the Fund for the Poor and the social welfare program as well as helped building and repairing 65,000 houses for the poor.Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh has called on organizations and individuals at home and abroad to support the poor nationwide, adding that “Only by reducing poverty can we ensure political and social stability and national defense and security.”There are still 2.6 million poor households and 1.5 million others living near the poverty line across Vietnam, accounting for 12% and 7%, respectively, of the national population, according to Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front’s Central Committee Huynh Dam.The government has pledged to increase its spending on poverty reduction and disaster mitigation despite the economic woes to reduce the poverty rate to 10% in 2012 and to 4%-5% by 2020 from 12% in 2011. (Tuoi Tre – Youth Dec 4 p4, Tien Phong – Pioneer Dec 3 p5)
