Facing that reality, local party committees and authorities, along with specialized agencies, have strengthened propaganda and direct dialogue with the people to create public consensus, contributing to removing site clearance bottlenecks in projects.

On the afternoon of October 29, the Land Recovery Enforcement Board of Mường Thanh ward organized a meeting to agree on an enforcement plan for 6 households in Khá village. These are households that have not yet handed over the site for the Resettlement Point Project for traffic roads connecting key economic areas along National Highway 279 and National Highway 12, with a total recovered area of 7,796.8m2 of production forest land.

Previously, although the authorities had repeatedly propagated, mobilized, and organized dialogues, this group of households still did not agree, forcing the Ward People’s Committee to build an enforcement plan. According to the plan, on November 3-4, Mường Thanh ward would mobilize over 110 officers, forces, and vehicles to carry out enforcement. However, after just 1 day of the entire political system getting involved in mobilization, the situation changed. Specifically, on the morning of October 30, the Enforcement Board organized a direct dialogue with households at the ward People’s Committee headquarters. After being specifically explained about compensation policies, legal records, and rights according to regulations, all 6 households agreed to sign the minutes and hand over the entire 7,796.8m2 of production forest land. Thanks to that, the resettlement project had a clean site to continue construction without having to apply enforcement measures.

Nguyễn Văn Hưng, Chairman of the Mường Thanh ward People’s Committee, said: “We always thoroughly grasp the principle of propaganda and dialogue first; only if the people still do not agree will we implement enforcement measures in accordance with regulations. Propaganda and mobilization work must be persistent and flexible but also resolute. People have the right to ask questions about benefits and policies, and the authorities have the responsibility to answer and explain until the people clearly understand and agree.”

In Thanh Yên commune, there are currently 4 key projects being deployed, including: The Dynamic Road Project; The Project on Multi-disaster Management of the Nậm Rốm River Basin; The Provincial Training Ground Project; and The Project on Ethnic Boarding Inter-level Primary and Secondary School of Thanh Yên commune. Immediately after implementing the 2-level local government model, Thanh Yên Commune People’s Committee urgently reviewed households with remaining obstacles in site clearance work, while promoting propaganda in many forms, especially through resident meetings, direct meetings, and small group dialogues.

Thanks to synchronous and effective deployment, many households have clearly understood the guidelines and policies and proactively coordinated with the authorities to hand over the site on schedule. Typically, on December 2, the household of Trần Thị Duyên (Nôm village) and a number of households in Noong Vai village coordinated with functional forces to inventory assets, dismantle housing works, and hand over the site to the investor of the Project on Multi-disaster Management of the Nậm Rốm River Basin in accordance with regulations.

Nguyễn Ngọc Tuấn, Chairman of the Thanh Yên commune People’s Committee, said: “Exemplary households not only comply with the province’s guidelines but also become the nucleus spreading the spirit of consensus in the community. When people understand that the project serves long-term interests, minimizes natural disaster risks, ensures safety, and opens up development opportunities for the locality, they will be ready to share difficulties with the authorities.”

However, in Thanh Yên commune, there are still a number of households belonging to key projects that have not agreed to hand over the site. Therefore, the commune government continues to strengthen dialogue, explaining each policy specifically so that people understand clearly and agree. “We determine that the more difficult it is, the more dialogue is needed. The goal is not to let the project progress be affected, while ensuring full legitimate rights of the people,” Tuấn emphasized.

In Sam Mứn commune, the Investment Project to build the Ethnic Boarding Inter-level Primary and Secondary School of Sam Mứn commune is entering the central stage of site clearance work. The project needs to recover 6.46ha of land, of which 5.32ha is for construction items and 1.14ha for the road to the school; affecting 50 households in Na Vai, Na Ten, Pá Nậm villages, and hamlet 7. The total estimated site clearance cost is about VND 16 billion.

To ensure openness, transparency, and create consensus among the people, the commune government and specialized agencies met directly and dialogued with each household, clarifying the meaning of the project as well as the compensation and support plan. Thanks to that, on December 3, the units paid VND 1.2 billion to eligible households. Phạm Thiết Chùy, Chairman of Sam Mứn commune People’s Committee, shared: “The most important thing is transparency. People only feel assured when each payment is correct according to regulations, correct area, correct land type, and clearly explained. When trust is consolidated, handing over the site takes place much more favorably. In the coming time, the commune will continue to coordinate closely with specialized agencies, accelerate site clearance work, creating conditions for the project to be deployed soon, meeting the learning needs of local children.”

Reality shows that propaganda and dialogue are key solutions deciding the effectiveness of site clearance work. Meeting directly and explaining policies clearly helps people correctly understand their rights and responsibilities, while helping authorities timely grasp thoughts to adjust methods, creating consensus, especially with key projects urgently requiring progress. In the coming time, localities will continue to strengthen propaganda, dialogue, and mobilize the entire political system to get involved to definitively remove site clearance obstacles. This is considered the “key” for Điện Biên province to accelerate the progress of implementing projects, perfecting infrastructure, and improving the quality of people’s lives.