Japan will continue to support Ho Chi Minh City to enhance its management capacity of its sewer system to better control flooding in the city.

Ho Chi Minh City has suffered increasing difficulties caused by flooding

The second phase of a technical co-operation project was signed on July 5 between Nagase Toshio, Senior Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Vietnam and Nguyen Phuoc Thao, Director of Steering Centre of the Urban Flood Control (SCFC) Programme.

The second phase, set to run from September 2011 to June 2012, will focus on raising management capacity on sewage treatment for SCFC staff in the Tau Hu Ben Nghe- Kenh Doi- Kenh Te basin and help the centre in selecting and supervising contractors.

Other activities will include sending Japanese experts to the centre and provision of training courses in Japan and other countries for SCFC staff. JICA will also supply a equipment to enhance the project’s efficiency.

“The project will provide flexible technical management for the centre to help it improve the city’s serious flooding problem,” said Mr. Nagase Toshio.

Ho Chi Minh City has suffered increasing difficulties caused by flooding, particularly incoming flood tides, over the last decade.

Experts have rejected suggestions that the worsening of Ho Chi Minh City\'s chronic flood situation is due to climate change, blaming it instead on rapid urban development and poor urban planning.

According to SCFC, 100 areas in the city are prone to flooding.