“Speak and Act” is a live talk TV program that has been on air on Channel 9 of HTV for the last five years, featuring discussions between government officials and audiences.
The show is the brainchild of Pham Phuong Thao, Chairperson of the Municipal Peoples’ Council along with the staffs of Channel 9.
This is the first and only live program in the country, aired every first Sunday morning of the month. The program aims to provide a platform for city residents to air their grievances with the city administrators and hence narrow the communication gap.
The program has become an effective official channel that links the city government and the people together to get two sides of an opinion.
Topics ranging from problems of flooding, traffic congestion, environmental pollution, food safety and hygiene, housing for low-income groups, online gaming, curbing inflation, administrative reforms and urban planning are discussed objectively.
In addition, the program also discusses long-term solutions to ongoing problems. Ms. Thao called the program a good program, which links the residents and government. Dr. Le Manh Ha, Director of the Department of Information and Communications said the program has put pressure on leaders to keep their promises.
Participants in the program are high-ranking officials, staff members from ministries as well as local State presidents, city party secretaries, chairmen’s and many foreign and home experts in various fields.
The “Speak and Act” program brings residents closer to the leaders and forms a bridge as well as an excellent forum to discuss the many problems faced by city residents as well as voicing the city leaders’ endeavors and efforts to make the city a better place to live.
