The
Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement; Ministry of Planning and
Finance; Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation; and the
Ministry of Health and Sports held a joint press conference to discuss the
performance of the four ministries’ second year in office at the Ministry of
Information yesterday afternoon.
At
the press conference, Union Minister Dr. Win Myat Aye explained the second-year
performance of the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement.
Laws
and rules were drawn up on the matter of setting up new policies. A youth
policy was enacted on 5 January 2018, enabling the youth to participate in the
education, economic, politics, peace, gender and human rights affairs. A
national-level elderly policy was prepared, while a new Child Law was amended,
drafted and submitted to the Hluttaw. A new law amending the Suppression of
Prostitution Act was prepared and the Prevention and Protection of Violence
against Women Bill was also drawn up and submitted for approval.
The
rules for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Law and the Elders Law were
also prepared.
Further,
a Legal Advisory Unit was formed to ensure the laws are fair when the policies
and rules are implemented.
A
Department of Rehabilitation was formed on 30 January 2018 to rehabilitate
handicapped persons, victims of human trafficking, former drug addicts,
orphaned and abandoned children, child soldiers, street children, and victims
of statutory rape, domestic violence and the aged. On the matter of
rehabilitating displaced persons, the views of the regional authorities and
civil society organisations were obtained and the future works, processes,
long-term plans and work processes were set up.
In
Chin State, Rakhine State and the Naga Self-Administered Zone where nutrition
levels are low, a mother is given Ks15,000 per month. A social pension of
Ks10,000 per month is also given to those above 90 years of age. For a Case
Management System to become firmly established, social case managers were trained
and employed in 10 more townships, expanding from 27 townships to 37 townships.
One
Stop Women Support Centres (OSWSC) were also being established.
Support
and assistance were also raised by the Department of Social Welfare to 979
self-help pre-schools, 244 welfare homes and 82 homes for the aged.
As
for the Disaster Management Department, an earthquake forum, a rehearsal for
earthquake preparedness and talks were held in cooperation with the Ministry of
Education. To mitigate and reduce losses and damages from strong winds, talks
on technical support against damaging winds and reinforcing houses were held in
129 wards/villages in 18 townships of Mandalay, Sagaing, Magway regions and
Shan State during the 2016-2017 fiscal year. In the 2017-2018 fiscal year,
talks were held in the Ayeyawady and Bago regions, in addition to the four
initial regions and state.
After
cyclone Nargis in 2008, a total of 93 cyclone shelters were built by the
2015-2016 fiscal year. During the incumbent government, 10 were completed and
16 were still under construction. Some 87 more shelters will be constructed,
explained the Union Minister.
Planning
and Finance Ministry second year review
Deputy
Minister for Planning and Finance U Maung Maung Win spoke about the second year
performance of the ministry, which include 20 departments and entities.
The
Planning Department has drawn up a six-month National Planning Law for April to
September of the 2018 Fiscal Year. He said the department has also drawn up the
Myanmar Sustainable Development Plan (MSDP).
The
Directorate of Investment Company Administration, in accord with the New
Myanmar Investment Law, has relegated authority of investment administration to
state and region directorates. These state and regional investment committees
can loan a principal of US$5 million or Ks6 billion to businesses.
Company
registration fees have also been reduced from an initial Ks1 million to
Ks500,000 in June 2016 and further reduced to Ks250,000 on 1 April 2018. Since
then, the number of companies has increased from 6,728 domestic companies and 1,172
foreign companies in Fiscal Year 2015-2016 to 9,147 domestic companies and
1,322 foreign companies by Fiscal Year 2016-2017. By 19 March 2018, foreign
investments reached US$5.31 billion and domestic investments reached Ks3.63
trillion and created 106,274 jobs.
The
Progress Appraisal and Progress Reporting Department conducted field surveys on
4,016 businesses and projects in 25 districts in the country. They also
transitioned from a closed tender system to an open tender system for
state-owned businesses and infrastructure related works.
The
Central Statistical Organization passed the Statistics Law in January 2018.
The
Foreign Economic Relations Department has formed the Development Assistance
Coordination Unit (DACU) and released the Development Assistance Policy in
January 2018 to more effectively manage foreign development assistance.
Myanmar
Economic Bank has acquired an Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan from
the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to offer two-step loans to
SMEs. There is also the Bank’s Owned Fund programme that grants loans for
developing SMEs. The Bank also offers three-year to five-year loans to farmers
and three-year loans to real estate projects.
Myanmar
Foreign Trade Bank has paid income taxes of Ks7.791 billion and deposited
Ks7.96 billion to the State.
Myanmar
Investment and Commercial Bank has paid income taxes of Ks9.12 billion and
deposited Ks8.99 billion to the State in Fiscal Year 2017-2018.
Myanmar
Agriculture Development Bank has granted farmers a loan of Ks100,000 per acre
in Fiscal Year 2015-2016. In Fiscal Year 2016-2017, the Bank has increased
loans for other crops to farmers at Ks20,000 to Ks50,000 per acre. The Bank has
given out Ks1.63 trillion in loans in Fiscal Year 2016-2017 and Ks1.70 trillion
in Fiscal Year 2017-2018. The total amount of loans granted is Ks3.34 trillion.
Myanmar
Insurance began offering life insurance to farmers in October 2017 in
collaboration with Myanmar Agriculture Development Bank. As of April 2018,
Myanmar Insurance has 41,407 registered clients, generated Ks58.79 million, and
so far has reimbursed Ks22.36 million to 40 farmers. Myanmar Insurance
generated an income of Ks56 billion in Fiscal Year 2016-2017 and Ks61 billion
in Fiscal year 2017-2018, an increase of Ks5 billion to the national income.
The
Internal Revenue Department implemented the online tax payment system with
private banks in January 2018.
The
Customs Department adopted an automated cargo clearance system on 12 November
2016, which cut time and costs for all stakeholders.
The
Budget Department has made its work available to the public on the ministry’s
website to promote transparency. The public can view the three-month
expenditure report, in year report, budget proposals, the Union Budget Law,
half-year reports and other related documents on the ministry’s website.
The
Treasury Department drew the monthly financial schemes for Fiscal Year
2016-2017 for Union Level Executive Organizations and Union Ministries. The
Department reviews the differences between actual expenditures and projected
expenditures based on the financial schemes over three-month periods to compile
monthly surplus money and deficits. The Department has compiled these reports
for the Fiscal Years 2015-2016 and 2016-2017.
The
Financial Regulatory Department approved registration of 176 microfinance
organisations to help develop the livelihoods of people living in rural areas.
In Fiscal Year 2016-2017, loans of Ks2.48 trillion were granted and Ks4.13
trillion worth of loans were granted in Fiscal Year 2017-2018.
The
Pension Department has arranged for retired civil servants to receive their
pension and bonus money within one month.
The
Revenue Appellate Tribunal, between 1 April 2016 and 31 December 2017, has
received 199 customs appeals, 35 customs review appeals, and one stamp
alteration case; a total of 235 cases. The Tribunal has handled 180 customs
appeals and 23 customs review appeals; a total of 203 cases.
The
Office of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Myanmar gave approvals for
First Myanmar Investment Co. Ltd., Myanmar Thilawa SEZ Holdings Public Ltd.,
Myanmar Citizens Bank Ltd., First Private Bank Ltd., and TMH Telecom Public Co.
Ltd. to register on the Yangon Stock Exchange company listing.
Ministry
of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation
U
Khin Maung Yi, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and
Environmental Conservation, said his ministry has banned logging in Bago
Mountain Range starting in the 2017-2018 Fiscal Year for a period of 10 years
and reduced the Annual Allowable Cut (AAC).
In
a press conference yesterday on the second year performance of the ministry, U
Khin Maung Yi said that in the current 2017-2018 FY, the ministry produced only
55 per cent of the teak and 31 per cent of the hardwood compared to the output
of the previous year.
As
part of efforts for conserving the elephants that are usually used for logging,
the ministry has expanded the establishment of elephant-based ecotourism
resorts since 2016-2017 Fiscal Year. Soo far, 18 camps have been established.
The
ministry also adopted the Myanmar Elephant Conservation Action Plan (MECAP)
2018-2027.
In
the second one-year period, the ministry confiscated 42,893.4316 tons of teak
and hardwood and arrested 6,591 persons, including 19 foreigners. As part of
efforts for greening the arid region, more than 3,888 acres of cultivation and
37,000 acres were designated as forest reserve.
U
Khin Latt Gyi, Director-General of the Mining Department, has suspended
granting permits for new mining blocks since 1 March, 2016, and also granted
extensions of permits for mining blocks which expired on 1 April, 2016.
In
accordance with the new by-law of the Myanmar Mines Law enacted on 13 February,
2018, small- and medium-sized mining businesses are allowed in regions and
states.
Regarding
the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), the ministry formed
the leading committee for EITI with four members led by the Union Minister for
Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation. There is also a tripartite
group for EITI comprised of the leading committee, companies and civil
societies.
The
ministry set its target of earning at least more than Ks540 billion from
mining, gems and the pearl sector in the 2017-2018 Fiscal Year, and achieved
its target with earnings of more than Ks740 billion.
Ministry
of Health and Sports
Afterwards,
Ministry of Health and Sports permanent secretary Prof. Dr. Thet Khaing Win
explained the work done on raising health knowledge among the public, and how
to reduce expenses incurred by the public on health care.
A
nationwide immunization campaign against 11 childhood diseases was conducted.
There are about 8.7 million students all over the country, and health
inspection in schools was conducted in 97 per cent of the schools nationwide.
Deworming of students was conducted twice in basic education schools and, as
this is beneficial for health, it will be conducted as priority work.
Malaria
is targeted to be eliminated in Myanmar by 2030. Annual campaigns against
elephantiasis are also conducted, and 4,888 new leprosy patients were being
treated. Across the country, 222,730 patients were given cataract operations,
Seven public hospitals in Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw provided free
anti-viral medicines to 2,000 patients, while 1,671 patients were treated up to
31 December 2017.
To
identify severe and highly infectious diseases, two multi-million dollar
laboratories were opened in Taunggyi and Insein.
National
Strategic Plan (2017-2021) for non-infectious diseases and Myanmar National
Cancer Control Strategic Plan (2017-2021) were drawn and the Population Based
Cancer Registry was also started in Nay Pyi Taw.
Open-heart
surgery was performed on 1,287 patients in Yangon People’s Hospital, Mandalay
People’s Hospital, North Okkalapa Hospital and Yankin Children Hospital and the
success rate was more than 95 per cent. Cardiac Cath Labs were opened in Yangon
People’s Hospital, Mandalay People’s Hospital and North Okkalapa Hospital,
where a total of 8,162 patients were treated. An additional 18 rural health
clinics and 22 sub-rural health centres were opened and 1,796 Community Health
Clinics were opened, where various health care services were provided.
A
total of 241 traditional health hospital and clinics were opened, where
1,512,300 out-patients and 29,868 in-patients were treated.
International-standard
laboratories were opened and these labs were accredited with the ISO 17025
Certificate by US-based ANAB (ANSI-ASO National Accreditation Board).
Twenty-four
district FDA offices are under construction, and all will have modern
laboratories to test food and medicines.
Sports
sector development was increased within the available budget, while development
of the health sector is being done. Six-hundred and seventy-five sets of
Outdoor Fitness Equipment were installed in locations where the public can
conduct physical exercise. Sports and Physical Education Institute Loikaw and
Monywa were opened, making for a total of six Sports and Physical Education
Institute, where more sports personnel will be produced.
For
the first time in Myanmar, there were 70 students who graduated from the B.Sc
(Sports) course and, at the moment, a total of 207 students were attending this
course in Dagon and Yatanabon University, explained the permanent secretary.
Han
Hmwe, Lin Naing (MNA)
Ref;
The Global New Light of Myanmar
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