Mass relocation in Ba River downstream: [3] Racing against time

Racing against the clock on the construction site

At 7 a.m., the construction site of the disaster-resilient resettlement community in Ia Hiao Commune, Gia Lai Province, is already a hive of activity.

The roar of excavators and bulldozers blends with the constant movement of dump trucks. Along the internal roads that are gradually taking shape, workers are busy completing transportation infrastructure, a community hall, and a school.

Elsewhere on the site, dozens of officers and soldiers from the 1st Infantry Company work tirelessly, digging foundations, erecting structural columns, and helping local residents build the first homes in their new community. At the same time, local authorities have mobilized teams to plant trees and assist families as they settle into their new surroundings, determined to complete the resettlement area before the onset of the rainy season.

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Meanwhile, construction is progressing at full speed at the Ia Tul resettlement community. Convoys of dump trucks continuously transport soil and rock for land leveling. Under the harsh Central Highlands sun, dozens of workers are divided into multiple teams to build roads, install drainage systems, and complete technical infrastructure. Amid the bustling construction site, another crew is racing to erect traditional Jrai stilt houses, preserving the community's distinctive architectural heritage.

Every turn of an excavator, every shovel of earth, and every section of concrete completed marks another step forward in the race against time to ensure that thousands of families from disaster-prone areas can move into their new homes before the first seasonal rains arrive.

Contracted to build 55 stilt houses, Duc Thanh Dat Private Enterprise, based in Ia Pa Commune, has mobilized its full workforce and prioritized recruiting local labor to accelerate construction. To date, dozens of houses have completed their structural frames, with crews now working intensively on roofing and finishing the main structures to meet the scheduled handover.

According to Dang Duc Thanh, Director of Duc Thanh Dat Private Enterprise, the company has deployed all available personnel, equipment, and construction materials to speed up progress. However, the project is being carried out under an extremely tight timeline, while construction remains dependent on several factors, including weather conditions, the disbursement of project funds, and site handover. These challenges have placed considerable pressure on the contractor.

Despite these challenges, the contractor regards the project as one of exceptional importance for families living in disaster-prone areas and is committed to deploying every available resource to deliver it on schedule.

Racing to welcome residents into their new homes

Site inspections show that construction of resettlement communities across western Gia Lai Province is accelerating, with contractors working intensively to complete essential infrastructure so that residents can relocate to safer areas before the rainy and storm seasons begin.

According to the Gia Lai Provincial Project Management Board for Construction Investment, seven projects are underway in the province's western part. These include six concentrated resettlement communities in Ia Hiao, Ia Tul, Ia Dreh, Uar, Dak Song, and Ia Rsai communes, as well as one infill resettlement project in Ia Ly Commune.

Construction teams are simultaneously carrying out land leveling, road construction, power distribution, water supply, drainage systems, and cadastral demarcation for residential plots.

To date, several projects have reached significant construction milestones. Land leveling, drainage systems, and roadbed works at some sites are approximately 96% complete. Concrete road surfacing, drainage ditches, and curbs are about 50% complete, while low-voltage power networks are about 65% complete. Water supply and drainage systems are roughly 50% complete, and plot demarcation is approximately 80% complete.

The Ia Ly resettlement project is being implemented through an in-fill resettlement model, which does not require the construction of new infrastructure. To date, the Ia Ly Commune People's Committee has approved compensation and resettlement plans for six households affected by the project.

Alongside infrastructure construction, the Gia Lai Provincial Project Management Board for Construction Investment has worked proactively with local authorities to identify sources of fill material, address construction challenges, and accelerate the disbursement of project funds. 

Immediately after being assigned the projects by the Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee, the Project Management Board expedited all required investment procedures. Between January and February 2026, it carried out unexploded ordnance clearance and site preparation. From February through April 2026, construction commenced simultaneously across all project sites in line with each locality's compensation and land clearance schedule.

To keep the projects on track, the Gia Lai Provincial Project Management Board has also urged local authorities to promptly complete compensation, assistance, and resettlement procedures at residents' original locations. At the same time, communes have been encouraged to organize plot allocation by lottery and assist households in building or relocating their homes to the new resettlement communities as soon as sites are handed over.