The 14th-day meeting of the third regular session of the third Pyithu Hluttaw took place at the Pyithu Hluttaw meeting hall in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday. The parliamentary session was attended by Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker U Khin Yi, Deputy Speaker U Maung Maung Ohn, and Hluttaw representatives. During the proceedings, MPs raised 11 starred questions answered by relevant deputy ministers, followed by deliberations on a motion concerning national cultural heritage.
Addressing an inquiry regarding cost-of-living and hardship allowances for civil servants stationed in remote regions, Deputy Minister for Home Affairs Maj-Gen Min Thu explained that regional assessment committees systematically review eligible locations using 11 benchmark criteria, including transport links, commodity prices, public healthcare, local security, and climatic conditions. While assessments are submitted to the Union Government to adjust allowances where warranted, the government currently has no scheme to match allowances to full basic salaries. In response to additional questions, he detailed urban zoning measures for fire-affected quarters in Kawkareik, outlined constitutional steps required to officially register rural villages in Thazi and Lahe townships, and noted that planned police housing projects in Myinmu Township will proceed once local security conditions permit.
Responding to an inquiry regarding staff appointments and organizational setups for the regional diagnostic laboratory in Dawei, Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation Dr Ye Tun Win stated that the Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department operates dedicated diagnostic, control, and assay laboratories nationwide for animal disease surveillance and food safety. He affirmed that the Dawei facility is currently adequately staffed by an appointed laboratory technician (at the rank equivalent to deputy assistant supervisor) under Union-level supervision, fulfilling regional diagnostic requirements.
On questions related to agricultural progress, Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation Dr Ye Tint Tun clarified the procedures for transferring Farmland Form 7 land-use certificates to legal heirs, emphasizing that streamlined processing at township land records offices enables farmers to access agricultural loans without undue delays. The ministry is also actively assisting Ayeyawady farmers through coordinated pest-control awareness campaigns to mitigate golden apple snail infestations in seasonal paddy fields.
Furthermore, the deputy minister outlined broad policy initiatives supporting agrarian communities, such as commercial tax exemptions on critical agricultural machinery, fertilizers, and farm inputs under the Union Tax Law. The Myanma Agricultural Development Bank continues to disburse timely seasonal and developmental loans, while the ministry, in partnership with the Myanmar Rice Federation, is implementing designated specialized export zones backed by national economic development funds to guarantee market stability for growers.
Later in the sitting, lawmakers debated a motion tabled by Dr Shwe Pyi Soe from the Dagon Myothit (Seikkan) Township Constituency, calling on the state to seek UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage status for Myanmar’s communal delicacy Htamane and the century-old Lunyagyaw weaving craft. Representatives from Amarapura, Kehsi, Chanayethazan, Thabeikkyin, Insein, and Kyaukpadaung constituencies supported the motion, underlining the importance of systematic documentation, generational succession, cultural tourism benefits, and global safeguarding frameworks.
Deputy Minister for Culture, Hotels and Tourism U Aye Tun affirmed that preparations are well underway to complete the national nomination dossier for Htamane culture by 31 March 2027 and the Lunyagyaw weaving craft by 31 March 2028.
The Pyithu Hluttaw decided to place the motion on formal record for progress monitoring, before adjourning until 12 October.
MNA/ST
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