The Ministry of Construction has submitted to the Government a proposalof building storm and flood-resilient houses for 86,260 poor householdsin northern and central coastal regions with State financial aid.

The three-year proposal is scheduled to start this year, benefiting the first 20 percent of the households.

According to the ministry, the plan will cost over 2,315 billion VND(110.2 million USD), including 621.6 billion VND coming from the Statebudget, close to 900 billion VND from the Vietnam Bank for SocialPolicies (VBSP) and the remaining to be contributed by the community.

According to reports from localities, 37,447households in 20 provinces and cities from Quang Ninh to Ba Ria-Vung Tauare unable to afford houses or living in dilapidated houses, while48,813 others have their home vulnerable to storms.

The ministry has proposed the State support one third of an average costof a house, equivalent to 16 million VND for each household or 19million VND for those living in remote, inaccessible areas.

They can also borrow up to 16 million VND from the VBSP with apreferential interest of 3 percent per year in a 10-year period and afive-year extension.

Meanwhile, those who areliving in old houses vulnerable to storms can borrow 8 million VND fromthe bank to repair and reinforce their houses with the same interestrate, according to the proposal.

According to theNational Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, about 10-12 stormsand tropical depressions may appear in the East Sea this year, 4-5of which will directly affect mainland Vietnam .

The northern and central coastal regions are frequently visited by storms and floods.-VNA