Stung Treng provincial governor Svay Sam Eang addresses the April 24 press conference. Heng Chivoan
In the past five years, systematic land registration in Stung Treng province – within the framework of the Land Administration Sub-Sector Programme – has been achieved in 35 villages, with more than 30,000 titles distributed to people across the province.
Governor Svay Sam Eang revealed the figures during a press conference on the provincial administration’s achievements of the past five years, held at Council of Ministers on April 24.
Sam Eang said his administration is committed to increasing the efficiency of land registration, and expects the work to be completed in the near future.
“We have registered all of the land in 35 villages, with 34,125 title deeds already issued,” he said.
“In addition, 11 economic land concession (ELC) projects have been registered, with 151 deeds covering a total area of 116,368ha. We are currently measuring another two ELCs, with a total area of 94,000ha,” he added.
He explained that seven social land concessions (SLC), covering more than 14,000ha have also been registered, along with collective land registration for four minority ethnic communities. Two of the communities have received their land titles, with the remaining two very close to issuance.
“These achievements are thanks to the efforts of the provincial Department of Land Management, Urban Planning, Construction and Cadastral Affairs, together with our officials. Although we are proud of our accomplishments, our work is not yet complete. We are committed to accelerating the pace of land registration, in accordance with the plans of the land management ministry,” he said.
Stung Treng provincial Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries director Kim Piseth detailed how the department has put plans in place for land management and use that ensure efficiency and reduce the challenges related to the land registration.
“In addition to distributing land titles, the department also strives to facilitate out-of-court settlements of land disputes,” he said.
“We will strive to increase the efficiency of the services we provide, in accordance with the directions of the interior ministry. We will also expedite the registration of land throughout the province as soon as possible, as it improves the local economy and the livelihoods of the people,” he added.
According to a report that was tabled at the press conference, in the past five years, the provincial administration has strengthened the management of several natural resource protection areas in the province, including the 99,000ha Virachey National Park, the 44,000ha Wensai-Siem Pang National Park and the Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary, which covers more than 121,000ha.
The administration is also responsible for 35km of the Mekong Dolphin Management Area.
It has also proposed establishing a new district on the Cambodia-Laos border, which would contain nine new villages in four communes.
The administration has also worked to strengthen bilateral cooperation with the border provinces of Champasak and Attapeu in Laos, and a cooperative alliance with the provinces of Kantoum, Yalai, Khanh Hoa and Binh Shik in Vietnam.
“The alliance maintains territorial integrity and boosts economic development along the border,” it claimed.
