Many National Assembly (NA) deputies have requested the legislature to pick transport projects and food safety, among others, for its supervision program in 2017 since they have much impact on the country’s socio-economic performance and people.

They proposed the NA supervise the implementation of policies and laws on investment and transport projects under the build-operate-transfer (BOT), build-transfer (BT) and public-private partnership formats at the legislature’s meeting in Hanoi on Monday.

The supervision of transport projects was questioned by many NA deputies as they impact the socio-economic situation and are related to the law building program.

According to the NA Standing Committee, BOT projects put into use over the past years have caused a slew of problems like high toll fees, and tollgates built at wrong locations. These have stoked great public concerns.

Twenty-six BOT projects capitalized at VND74 trillion have been put into operation nationwide while 36 projects with a combined investment of VND111 trillion are underway. Most of the BOT transport projects are allowed to collect tolls for tens of years.

Many deputies also called for the NA to supervise the implementation of policies and laws on food safety.

Deputy Nguyen Thi Kim Be of Kien Giang Province was quoted by the Vietnam News Agency as saying voters were very worried about substandard food.

Deputy To Van Tam of Kon Tum Province voiced his concern over food safety, saying that there are problems with all stages of the food production chain ranging from processing, distribution to consumption.

Though the ministries of health, industry-trade and agriculture-rural development are in charge of food issues, a lot of inadequacies and overlapping management remain, according to Tam.

The other areas proposed for NA supervision next year are the implementation of policies and laws on reform of the State apparatus, and fishermen and sea economic development.