MINISTRY of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement held a coordination meeting of the National Disaster Management Working Committee and Fundraising Working Committee via virtual system on 8 January in Nay Pyi Taw.

At the virtual meeting, Union Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Dr Win Myat Aye, in his capacity as the Chairman of the Working Committees, said the systematic management of the funds in accordance with the National Disaster Management Fund Law amended in 2017.

He highlighted the importance of the effective use of the fund in disaster management works by selecting the necessary preparation works and prioritizing them effectively; the need to report to the National Committee systematically and to draw up the necessary action plans in the annual budget request for the disaster management preparation and urgent response activities.

The Union Minister called for participation in the discussion to implement the most effective natural disaster preparedness and preventive measures, to draw up master plans for each region and state to make spending more efficient and effective and to draw up one-year and long-term plans and prepare in advance.

Afterwards, Deputy Minister for Planning, Finance and Industry U Maung Maung Win, in his capacity as the Deputy Chairperson of the Fundraising Working Committee, discussed the disbursement of funds for disaster management activities, availability of emergency funds, implementation of Southeast Asia Disaster Risk Insurance Facility (SEADRIF) fundraising activities and rules and regulations in spending the fund and audit issues.

After the members of the working committees, had discussed the implementation of the disaster management activities, operational status on Internally Displaced Persons, budgeting, water scarcity, cyclone shelter construction and the status of funding by the respective states and regions, the Union Minister and Deputy Ministers coordinated the meeting.

In his concluding speech, the Union Minister urged to manage the high risk factors and rapid disaster response and effective recovery process that may affect the socio-economic development of the country with the innovative use of required technologies, the advice based on the experience of experts, and with the systematic implementation of the standard guidelines on Disaster Management Law, strategies and by managing the government’s limited funds without a waste. He urged the Union Government, Nay Pyi Taw Council and the respective states and regions and people to work together and cooperate.

The meeting was also attended by the Ministers for Security and Border Affair, Ministers for Planning, Finance Industry from Nay Pyi Taw Council and respective states and regions, Permanent Secretaries and Directors-General from Union Ministries.

MNA

(Translated by Ei Phyu Phyu Aung)

Photo: MNA

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THE 5th relief flight of Myanmar National Airlines (MNA) organized by the Myanmar Embassy in Singapore landed at Yangon International Airport bringing back a total of 141 Myanmar nationals, who were stranded in Singapore due to the suspension of international flights, yesterday evening.

The Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population, the Ministry of Health and Sports and the Yangon Region government provided them with proper medical tests and arranged 7-day quarantine at specific places or designated hotels, followed by the 7-day home quarantine.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been working with Myanmar embassies in foreign countries and local ministries concerned to bring back citizens stranded abroad due to the suspension of international commercial flights, in accordance with the guidance of the National-Level Central Committee on Prevention, Control and Treatment of COVID-19.

MNA

(Translated by TTN)

Photo: MNA

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MINISTRY of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation held a coordination meeting on water resources and measures to address water scarcity caused by climate change yesterday afternoon in accordance with the COVID-19 prevention directives in Nay Pyi Taw.

At the meeting, Union Minister Dr Aung Thu urged to the responsible engineers from the Ministry to provide disciplined leadership for exploration, conservation and systemic use of water resources with the guidance of the respective state and regional governments.

He added the need to access groundwater to address potential water scarcity issues; to explore water sources for rural drinking water supply, safe drinking water and agriculture; to develop and implement concrete plans for effective and efficient use of existing water resources without wasting them. He said Myanmar is changing its rainfall pattern due to global climate change and the inflow of water into dams is declining. He continued that the meeting aimed to set short term and long term activities to prevent water reduction in the dams and prioritize the safety work of the completed dams according to the budget year.

The Director-General for Irrigation and Water Utilization Management Department explained the extensive use of Rain Water Harvesting technology in relation to water supply works for irrigated acreage development and the use of Ground Water Recharge technology in constructing sluice gates and small dams and new river pumping stations.

The Union Minister and Deputy Minister discussed the construction of dams that can supply water to the existing dams, canals with short-term and medium-term activities; continuing to implement Dam Series; conducting surveys for long-term dam projects; to select and implement potential dams for long-term implementation and the need to carry out safety work on the dams. The meeting was attended by Union Minister Dr Aung Thu, Deputy Minister U Hla Kyaw, Permanent Secretary U Kyaw Min Oo, the Directors-General and officials from the Irrigation and Water Utilization Management Department.

MNA

PHOTO: MNA

(Translated by Ei Phyu Phyu Aung)

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Union Minister for Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation U Ohn Win presided over the first coordination meeting of the Department of Environmental Conservation for 2020-2021FY via videoconferencing at its office in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.

The Union Minister said that the department was first established over eight years ago for the environmental conservation in all sectors.

Policies and strategies, laws and by-laws and rules and regulations relating to the environment were laid down to work for the clean environment and healthy ecosystem in successive generations of the country.

The department was established in 2012-2013FY, it is now being operated with 1,411 staff with 15 Region/State offices, 45 District offices, and 7 Township offices. The national environmental policy, climate change policy, strategy and main function, waste strategy and main function were released during this period. Implementations of the related sectors based on the policies, strategy, and main function have somewhat achievements.

Additional 43 district offices and township offices are planned to be opened in the seven years from 2019-2020FY to 2025-2026FY. Plans are being made to open the offices, appoint staff, and to request budgets for the projects.

Vice-President-led National Environmental Conservation and Climate Change Central Committee organized ten meetings so far, and resolutions of the meetings were being implemented in all levels of Region/State and District/Township.

The department granted small-scale mining permits in regions and states to help the livelihoods of the residents and conducted environmental assessments in cooperation with Region/State governments.

MNA

PHOTO: MNA

(Translated by Kyaw Zin Tun)

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The opening ceremony of 126th Mahar Patthana recitation was held at Uppatasanti Pagoda in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday morning.

The five members of Sangha, including Sayadaw Bhaddanta Vimala Buddhi, who is the senior member of the advisory board of the pagoda and the presiding monk of Pali Tekkatho Mingalar Zay Yone Monastery, attended the opening ceremony. Union Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture Thura U Aung Ko, Directors-General for Religious Affairs and Department for the Promotion and Propagation of Sasana, Deputy Permanent Secretary and officials were also present.

The Maha Patthana recitation ceremony will take place from 7 to 11 January.

MNA

PHOTO: MNA

(Translated by Khine Thazin Han)

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DEAR esteemed ethnic national brothers and sisters,

I send these good wishes for this auspicious 2021 New Year for your good health and well-being.

I said in the previous New Year’s Greetings that the Year 2020 was an important year for our country. Not only our country but also the world encountered various difficult challenges in 2020.

COVID-19 pandemic started in December 2019, and it has spread throughout the world. The Tatmadaw has kept monitoring the prevention and treatment of this disease.

Although the number of COVID-19 cases has declined in the country, constant vigilance is still needed. Strict adherence to the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Sports could effectively control the transmission of this disease.

All countries of the world are experiencing socio-economic losses due to this pandemic. The global population is over 7,000 million. All the countries and all the people are struggling for their livelihoods.

As Myanmar is an agrobased country, strenuous efforts in agricultural and livestock sectors could help in global food security and socio-economic development of Myanmar.

The Tatmadaw will shun any matter that can hinder and disturb peacemaking processes. In implementing eternal peace, the Tatmadaw has announced a ceasefire for two years from 21 December 2018 to 31 December 2020 in five military command areas. Possible efforts will be made in the future to the utmost extent.

The ethnic armed organizations need to take the NCA path in the post-2020 in leading to a political path based on democracy and a federal system.

The Tatmadaw will make the best effort for eternal peace and national development in close cooperation with the ethnic national brothers and sisters. Let me pray once again for the people to have all their good wishes fulfilled.

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MY NEW YEAR Wish is that during the life-time of Buddha in the past over 2,500 years ago, Vesali state was hit by three major catastrophes—(a) pandemic (b) devils (c) starvation.

The Lord Buddha taught his disciple Anadar recitation of Ratana Sutta, and the latter could help people to overcome these catastrophes.

Myanmar people are advised to recite Ratana Sutta very often, to follow moral conducts and to share merits to celestial beings. In return, those celestial beings may help all the human beings in overcoming COVID-19 pandemic.

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The Universal Periodic Review Working Group will review Myanmar’s third cycle report about human rights on 25 January during its 37th session.

Union Attorney-General U Tun Tun Oo chaired the meeting to choose the departments and officials in response to reviewing the report which was submitted by Myanmar to URP Work Group on 7 October this year. The review session will be attended by the officials from the Permanent Representative of Myanmar Office to the UN Office in Geneva, and the representatives from Myanmar will join the session via videoconferencing.

MNA (Translated by Aung Khin)

PHOTO: MNA

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The Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) held its final meeting for the year yesterday via video conference.

The meeting, chaired by Union Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations and Chairman of the MIC U Thaung Tun, was attended by Vice-Chairman Dr Than Myint, Union Minister for Commerce and members of the Commission.

The meeting approved 5 new investments proposals and an increase in capital in 4 existing projects. The approved investments covered the energy, fishery, hotel and services sectors and totalled US$ 138.178 million and K109.204 billion.The projects are expected to create over 4,000 job opportunities. The new projects approved by the MIC include two 30 MW solar power projects in Sagaing Region and a shrimp farm project in Tanintharyi Region.

The solar power projects are in keeping with the commitment made by State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to tackle climate change in her address to the virtual Climate Ambition Summit held on 12 December 2020. In her statement, the State Counsellor announced Myanmar’s intention to submit its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) by the end of the year. The NDC will aim to reduce over 243 million tonnes of carbon dioxide by increasing the share of renewable energy to 39% and reducing the net emission from the forestry sector by 25%.

It is learnt that Singapore, People’s Republic of China and Thailand currently head the list of 51 countries/regions investing in Myanmar. Investments in 12 sectors include — 26.11 % in the electricity sector, 26.03 % in the oil and gas sector and 14.58 in the manufacturing sector.

MNA

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A ceremony to hand over the ‘Notice to Proceed’ letter for the integrated domestic gas to power project was held at the Ministry of Electricity and Energy yesterday morning.

The 592 MW power project is invested by Thai-based PTTEP company in Kyaiklat Township in Ayeyawady Region.

The ceremony was attended by Union Minister U Win Khaing, Deputy Ministers U Khin Maung Win and Dr Tun Naing, Permanent Secretary U Than Zaw and departmental heads.

CEO of PTTEP Mr Phongsthorn Thavisin and company officials joined the event via videoconferencing.

The Union Minister said that the natural gas from the offshore blocks M-3 (Aung Theinkha project) and M-9 (Zawtika project) would be supplied to the integrated domestic gas to power project with the investment of PTTEP under IPP/BOT system.

The gas from M-3 blocks will be conveyed through 16-inch diameter subsea pipelines for 92-km length, from M-9 block in Taninthayi Region through 26-inch diameter subsea pipelines for 300-km length to Daw Nyein Control Station.

The 26-inch diameter inland pipelines will be used for 70-km length to the receiving station in Kyaiklat Township and 16-inch diameter pipeline for another 6-km length to the 592 MW power station.

The investment value of the project will be about US$2 billion, and it will be implemented in the first six months of 2024 to supply electricity to the development projects in Yangon and Ayeyawady regions and it will be transferred to Myanmar after 20 years of power.

MNA

(Translated by Aung Khin)

PHOTO: MNA

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