The questioning of the Director of the Department of Food Safety concerning management, inspection, and handling of food safety violations will take place on the second day of the session.

In early November, Ho Chi Minh City experienced a series of food poisoning incidents, hospitalizing hundreds of people. This included 316 individuals falling ill after eating Co Bich banh mi, alongside other cases at worker canteens and schools. These incidents occurred despite mild weather, pointing to risks originating from processing and preservation stages.

As the year-end approaches, this issue garners increased public attention due to a sharp rise in food demand. Ho Chi Minh City is currently the only locality operating a Department of Food Safety under a pilot model established by Resolution 98.

Pham Khanh Phong Lan, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Food Safety, will answer questions at the year-end session of the city's People's Council. Photo: National Assembly E-portal

Also on the same working day, Tran Quang Lam, Director of the Department of Construction, will be questioned on the progress of key public investment projects, solutions for traffic congestion, social housing development, and the issuance of certificates for apartment buildings.

This marks Lam's first time answering questions since the Department of Construction merged with the Department of Transport. The merged department now advises on construction investment, urban development, technical infrastructure, housing, and urban transport.

Ho Chi Minh City is often described as a "mega construction site" with numerous transport infrastructure projects underway, which account for a large portion of public investment capital. However, many projects, such as the An Phu, My Thuy, and Ring Road 3 intersections, and the Nguyen Khoai bridge-road, are facing delays due to land clearance issues and material shortages.

Regarding traffic congestion, data collected and simulated by the Urban Traffic Management and Operations Center indicates a 24% increase compared to the same period in 2024. Vehicles are moving slower on roads, particularly in central areas.

For social housing, Ho Chi Minh City's target for 2030 has increased to nearly 200,000 units following the agency merger. This year, the city has completed two projects providing over 1,500 units and is currently implementing 16 other projects. Seven additional projects, totaling 5,222 units, are expected to be completed by year-end.

The questioning session will be broadcast live for public viewing.

During the session, the People's Council will also hear reports on the socio-economic situation in 2025 and tasks for 2026. Other reports include the results of the 2025 theme "Lean - compact - strong - efficient - effective", digital transformation, Resolution 98 implementation, and resolution of outstanding issues. Reports on thrift practice, anti-wastefulness, and reports from the judicial and procuracy sectors will also be presented. The city's People's Council will consider several proposals concerning mechanisms, policies, public investment, and urgent issues within its jurisdiction.

Le Tuyet