Cambodian Senate Members Meet Local Authorities to Strengthen Local Governance and Citizen Services

A delegation of Senate members from the 3rd region (Kandal Province) visited Ta Khmau City in Kandal Province on Friday, August 7th, to meet with local authorities. A total of 124 people participated in the meeting. His Excellency Mam Bun Neang, head of the delegation, conveyed greetings from Samdech Techo Hun Sen, President of the Senate, His Excellency Uch Borith, First Vice President, and His Excellency Dr. Thon Vathana, Second Vice President of the Senate. He also explained the purpose of the meeting. During the event, Dr. Chan Sothavy, Secretary of the Senate members' delegation for the 3rd region and Chairwoman of the Senate's Legislation and Justice Committee, presented on the "Role of Communes/Sangkats in Registration in Accordance with Court Decisions and Dispute Resolution at the Local Level." This presentation was aimed at strengthening the effective implementation of laws to ensure the protection of citizens' rights and legal interests, and to further enhance the capacity of competent authorities in providing better public services to the people at the local level. Dr. Chan clearly elaborated on all relevant legal provisions to address the issues raised by participants. Participants expressed their gratitude to Dr. Chan, as the presentation topic directly addressed the practical needs encountered by competent local authorities in their roles serving the citizens. Following this, His Excellency Mam Bun Neang disseminated information about Sub-Decree No. 76 ANK.BK dated April 30, 2026, on "The Organization and Functioning of the Fraternity Fund." This was in response to concerns raised by commune/sangkat councils regarding limited budget allocation for sub-national administrations. His Excellency emphasized that the government's sub-decree aims to ensure equity in local development and provide sufficient capacity for city, district, and commune/sangkat administrations to improve local development and public services with transparency. Furthermore, His Excellency informed attendees about the "Comprehensive Intervention Program" approved by the government, which is planned to be implemented with a total budget of approximately US$1.244 billion. This program is designed to ensure the stability of people's livelihoods and support vulnerable individuals through job creation, entrepreneurship, and the provision of technical and vocational training. In addition, His Excellency announced the provision of 100 scholarships through a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the 10th Commission of the Senate and the Cambodian Digital Intelligence Institute (E-school). These scholarships will be available for each sub-sangkat, offering opportunities to study general knowledge, technical skills, and foreign languages online. Moreover, His Excellency appealed to citizens and authorities at all local levels to continue their solidarity and support for the valiant efforts of the armed forces and national police, who bravely defend Cambodia's sovereignty and territorial integrity. He specifically urged continued support and trust in the government's diplomatic endeavors on the international stage to counter the invasion of Cambodian territory by the Thai military. To conclude, the Senate members' delegation from the 3rd region presented gifts to the commune/sangkat councils, chiefs, and police chiefs. Each recipient received beverages, a package of aid from the Global Life-Saving Sharing Fund of the Republic of Korea, and a sum of money, totaling 7,717,000 Riel.