THE seventh day of the third Amyotha Hluttaw’s second regular session convened at 10 am yesterday in Nay Pyi Taw. Speaker U Aung Lin Dwe confirmed a quorum with 204 of 209 eligible members present and formally opened the proceedings.
The session began with parliamentary questions covering infrastructure, pensions, agricultural loans, and public works. Shan State Constituency 11 representative U Shar Mwe Lashan asked about upgrading a five-mile dirt road connecting four villages in Kengtung Township. Deputy Minister for Border Affairs Maj-Gen Kyaw Swa Oo replied that the road, transferred to his ministry in 2022-2023, is only twelve feet wide and requires widening before concrete surfacing can proceed. The project will be implemented based on available state development funds and will benefit 256 households and 1,645 residents.
Magway Region Constituency 7 representative U Khin Maung Htay raised concerns about pension withdrawals for retired civil servants in Gangaw, Htilin, and Saw townships. Deputy Minister for Finance and Revenue Daw Than Than Lin reported that the Myanma Economic Bank’s Gangaw branch has disbursed pensions for April and May 2026 via cash and mobile money. While Htilin and Saw branches have not received fresh cash transfers, they have made payments using existing balances. Retirees outside their home areas can withdraw through representatives or mobile transfers, and a centralized e-pension system is being considered for future streamlining.
Mandalay Region Constituency 1 representative U Khin Maung Win inquired about raising agricultural loans beyond K500,000 per acre. Deputy Minister Daw Than Than Lin stated that there is currently no plan to increase the per-acre ceiling beyond the recently raised levels.
Ayeyawady Region Constituency 6 representative U Myo Thant posed two questions on delta transportation. First, he asked about constructing submerged concrete roads in five flood-prone townships. Deputy Minister for Cooperatives and Rural Development U Thike Soe explained that such roads require high-grade materials and steel reinforcement to withstand water pressure, making them far costlier than standard roads. The six roads under consideration would cost an estimated K10.55 billion. No immediate construction is planned; feasibility studies will be conducted first.
Second, U Myo Thant asked whether the Khanweyoe wooden bridge on the Pyakadat-Sinlu road in Hinthada Township could be replaced in 2027-2028. The Deputy Minister noted that the existing 65-foot wooden bridge, built by locals in 1995, has about two years of useful life remaining. A new 100-foot concrete bridge was proposed for 2025-2026 but deferred due to budget priorities. The project, now slated for 2027- 2028, is estimated at K1.1 billion and would benefit 23 villages with 5,841 residents, pending final budget approval.
Following the Q&A, the Hluttaw addressed organizational matters. The Speaker announced the formation of Parliamentary Friendship Associations with Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan, which were formally approved. Chairpersons named were U Chit Swe for Myanmar-Russia, Brig-Gen Than Tun Aung for Myanmar-Belarus, and U Rakwi Pung for Myanmar-Kazakhstan, each with five members and a secretary, all endorsed by the Hluttaw.
The Speaker also introduced three new committees: Farmers’ Affairs; Youth, Women, Children, and Elderly Rights; and Education Promotion. After presentations on each committee’s duties and terms by representatives U Khin Zaw Tun, Daw Htar Htar Nu, and U Tint Zaw, the Hluttaw approved all three. The Farmers’ Affairs Committee will be chaired by U Chit Wai with U Khin Zaw Tun as secretary; the Rights Committee by Daw Theingi Win Shwe with Daw Htar Htar Nu as secretary; and the Education Promotion Committee by Dr Kyaw Tun with U Tint Zaw as secretary. Each comprises fifteen members. The seventh-day meeting was then adjourned, with the eighth-day scheduled for 19 June. — MNA/ST
