Vietnam’s government has adjusted the list of poor localities that need government support until 2015 in a bid to narrow the gap between the urban and remote areas. The third phase of Program 135, a national poverty reduction program, will benefit 2,331 villages in 49 cities and provinces nationwide, marking the highest number of localities in the supporting list since the launch of its first phase in 1998. Supporting more low-income villages is part of the government’s efforts to promote socio-economic development in the mountainous and remote areas where residents lack basic infrastructure including roads, electricity, safe water pipeline, and irrigation systems. The third phase, which began in 2012, focuses on building infrastructure systems and promoting agricultural production. Most of the poor localities would receive financial support from the central budget but the government doesn’t disclose the total investment for this period. The program has received financial support from the World Bank. However, corruption remains the biggest problem in conducting poverty reduction programs in Vietnam. (Tin Tuc - News April 14 p2, Molisa.gov.vn April 11)
