TIẾNG VIỆT

In tune with people's needs in COVID-19 time

VGP - In social distancing periods, “essential goods” are the keywords that become the center of attention. And in the last couple of days, these keywords are brought up even more commonly in discussions as the Government takes a series important of measures

A Resident in Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City receives financial aid because of the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact.

On July 31st and August 1st, the Government promulgated several consecutive documents which demanded that the prices of electricity, water and telecom services be reduced. These three aid policies came into existence after the Prime Minister’s Telegram on the prevention and containment of COVID-19. The telegram stated that the authorities must safeguard the people’s livelihood - ensuring their material and mental wellbeing in order to solidify their trust in the social distancing measures. 

After their promulgation, the above mentioned documents were welcomed by the majority of the public. Many consider these documents to be the expressions of the people’s will. For those in pandemic-stricken areas - where “every penny counts”,  reducing utility bills is an effective way to relieve the people’s financial burdens. 

The Viet Nam Government Portal’s Facebook Fanpage, as well as the VGP News site have also received multiple comments on this matter, and they generally share the same view: reductions in the prices of electricity, water and telecom services shows that the Prime Minister, the Government, different branches and levels of the State along with enterprises … all have acted responsibly and empathetically. As one reader puts it: “You can only understand the hearts of others in times of hardship". Aid policies like these are highly anticipated by workers and poor laborers - people whose income are severely affected as they cannot go to work during social distancing periods. This provides a solid foundation to further unite the people's hearts and minds, so that everyone would join hands with the Government to overcome the toughest phase in the fight against COVID-19.

Concrete figures, concrete actions

In actual fact, this is not the first, but the fourth time electricity prices have been reduced since the first outbreak in 2020. In the fourth round of electricity price reduction alone, the total value of the reductions is estimated at about VND 2,500 billion for customers that use electricity for domestic purposes. The combined value of all the reductions since the beginning of the pandemic is approximately VND 16,300 billion (more than US$7 million). 

Likewise, the latest support package from telecom enterprises has a total value of VND 10,000 billion.

Compared to electricity bills, the households’ water bills tend to be lower. In the current situation however, aid policies to reduce water bills are still highly appreciated. Considering how the water industry had already been equitized in many localities, the reduction in water prices requires enterprises to display their solidarity. 

Reflections

On a positive note, the back-to-back waves of COVID-19 are opportunities to understand more thoroughly what compassion entails, and what responsibilities enterprises have to the country. In the pandemic, enterprises are one of the most severely affected groups; and yet, it is also enterprises that have made remarkable contributions to the community. The efforts of the electricity, water and telecom enterprises are particularly notable. 

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has affirmed that the Party, the State and the Government cherish all forms of contribution from the people and enterprises. Contributions, regardless whether they are big or small, all come from the heart and a sense of responsibility to the community.

Some readers have said that in the future, when the pandemic will have become a thing of the past, memories about one of the most unforgettable challenges in humanity’s history will live on: From memories of the “heroes in white coats” on the front lines, to memories of compassion in the midst of a pandemic; memories of selfless individuals; of organizations, agencies and enterprises that devote their all for the country; and of the days where the entire nation become more united than ever./.

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