Hundreds of logs from trees cut down in Ho Chi Minh City have been left exposed to the sun, resulting in the wood rotting, becoming infested with insects, and no longer usable.

The reason behind all this is that the debate over which agency will take responsibility for auctioning the logs remains unresolved.

The Department of Construction has proposed that the municipal People's Committee assign the Department of Finance to manage and auction the logs. However, the Department of Finance is arguing this is out of their scope. 

Previously, this task was carried out under the municipal administration’s Decision 61, which has since expired with no present regulation regarding the management or handling of such wood. 

In the interim, the Department of Construction has proposed three solutions for handling the wood. 

The first solution is to temporarily suspend the auction process until further guidance is provided. However, this solution would cause wood yards to overload, making overseeing the task more difficult and risking the quality of the wood.

The second solution is to follow the city’s Decree 151, which provides a way to implement provisions of the Law on Management and Use of Public Property to auction the logs. However, the city has announced plans to revoke this decision.

The third solution is to task the Ministry of Finance with managing and dealing with the logs. The Department of Construction explained that in accordance with the Law on Management and Use of Public Property, the Department of Finance is responsible for handling and selling wood. 

While awaiting the municipal government’s decision, the Department of Construction recommended the second solution to avoid compromising the log quality and incurring additional costs for storage and fire prevention.

In response, the Department of Finance stated that the Law on Management and Use of Public Property outlines the management of infrastructure assets and principles for the management, use, and exploitation of such assets.

Logs from tree felling and clearance are urban green infrastructure and managed by the Ho Chi Minh City Infrastructure Management Center under the Department of Construction. 

The Department of Finance claimed management and auction of this type of wood should follow government regulations under urban trees and parks management, adding as per the 2024 Decision 06 by the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, the management of urban trees and parks does not fall under the responsibilities of the Department of Finance. Therefore, the Department of Construction’s proposal is groundless.

Logs from trees felled in Ho Chi Minh City have amounted to 4,500 cubic meters, and are currently stored in outlying Hoc Mon District.

Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters found hundreds of logs stacked up, left out in the sun.

If trees in the city are found to have defects or insect damage, a proposal to fell them is submitted to the Infrastructure Management Center under the Department of Construction.

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