Thua Thien – Hue pays second-batch Formosa compensation to fishermen

Phong Dien district will receive more than VND24 billion (US$1 million), Quang Dien nearly VND14 billion (US$616,000), Phu Vang over VND68.5 billion (over 3 million USD), Phu Loc VND73.6 billion (US$3.23 million ), and Huong Tra town over VND19.7 billion (US$866,800). The Committee requested the five localities ensure the progress of the second batch payment of compensation. 

So far, 18,114 out of 19,000 affected households have received compensation worth a total of nearly VND322 billion (US$14.17 million), accounting for over 80% of the total compensation of VND400 billion (US$17.6 million) in the first phase.

Phong Dien district distributed nearly VND29 billion (US$1.27 million) for 2,046 beneficiaries, Quang Dien district paid over VND25 billion (US$1.1 million) to 1,329 people, Phu Vang district over VND129 billion (US$5.67 million) for 6,156 people, and Huong Tra town over VND19 billion (US$836,000) for 1,552 people.

According to Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Dinh Duc, most beneficiaries used their first-batch compensation to upgrade or buy fishing tools.

In late June 2016, Taiwan-invested Hưng Nghiệp Formosa Hà Tĩnh Steel Limited Company admitted responsibility for the environmental incident, which affected the central provinces of Hà Tĩnh, Quảng Bình, Quảng Trị and Thừa Thiên-Huế. It pledged VND11.5 trillion (US$500 million) in compensation.

The Ministry of Finance transferred VND3 trillion (US$134 million) to the localities in the initial phase. Of the amount, Thua Thien-Hue got VND400 billion (US$17.6 million), Quang Binh VND1.1 trillion (US$48.5 million), Ha Tinh one trillion VND (US$44.1 million), and Quang Tri VND500 billion (US$22 million).