Two-level local government: Gradually overcoming the situation of administrativeization and distance from the people

Photo caption — Specialists from Phu Lien ward ( Hai Phong ) guide citizens to submit marriage registration documents to the National Public Service Portal. Photo: Minh Thu/VNA

Positive movement from the grassroots

In Ai Quoc ward, a new administrative unit formed after merging the old Ai Quoc ward, Quyet Thang commune and part of Hong Lac commune, the local government quickly stabilized the organization, perfected the apparatus, and effectively operated the 2-level local government model.

With an area of 17.83 km² and a population of nearly 25,000 people, Ai Quoc ward, although not large in scale, has diverse cultural characteristics, one side is the traditional agricultural lifestyle, the other side is the modern industrial urban style. The difference in psychology, living habits and task structure of administrative staff has posed high requirements for adaptation and consensus.

Secretary of the Party Committee of Ai Quoc Ward Pham Dinh Viet Duc shared that the Party Committee of the Ward has clearly defined the goal that by 2027, the ward government will be recognized as meeting the standards of a "Friendly Government"; by 2030, it will meet the standards of a civilized urban area according to the regulations of the Prime Minister . Key solutions are deployed synchronously, from extensive propaganda to organizing the apparatus according to the principle of "6 clear": clear people, clear work, clear time, clear responsibility, clear authority, clear results.

The ward also focuses on mobilizing resources to invest in technical infrastructure, digital technology, traffic improvement, and lighting according to the motto "The State and the people work together". The role of the Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations is strongly promoted in mobilizing people to participate in building a civilized urban area.

Hong An Ward was established on the basis of merging the entire natural area and population of Quan Toan Ward, An Hong Ward, and a part of the natural area and population of An Hung, Dai Ban, Le Thien and Tan Tien Wards. Hong An Ward has a total natural area of 27.78 km2, population of 64,852 people. In the ward, there is a cluster of Japanese - Hai Phong industrial parks and many small and medium enterprises, contributing to the development of the local economy and improving the lives of the people.

According to the Party Secretary of the Ward Do Viet Hung, after just over two months of operation, the Public Administration Service Center of the ward has welcomed and guided more than 3,500 citizens, received and processed 3,512 files, of which 100% of files were processed on time, without delay. All leadership and direction documents of the Party Committee and the Ward People's Committee are digitally signed.

The staff and civil servants are trained in digital skills and communication skills, contributing to improving the satisfaction level of people and businesses. Administrative reform is promoted in all areas, especially land, urban, judiciary, culture and society. The initiative in State management is clearly improved, gradually overcoming the state of administrativeization and distance from the people.

Phu Lien Ward was established on the basis of merging the entire natural area and population of Bac Ha Ward, Ngoc Son Ward, most of Van Dau Ward, Nam Son Ward; part of Dong Hoa Ward, Bac Son Ward, Tran Thanh Ngo Ward and part of Truong Son Town, An Lao District. The Ward has a total natural land area of 19.11 km2; population of over 61,700 people; 40 residential groups; 78 Party organizations with 3,600 Party members.

Secretary of Phu Lien Ward Party Committee Bui Thi Tuyet Mai said that as an area with rapid urbanization and a large population, the ward has implemented the "Friendly Government" model with many creative initiatives. After nearly three months of implementation, the Public Administration Center has received 2,885 records (1,508 online records and 1,377 direct records). All records are digitized in components and results according to regulations; there are no overdue records. The rate of online payment of records reached 97%.

Officials and civil servants strictly implement the motto "5 know - 3 don't - 3 show", organize regular meetings with people, and dialogue in residential groups. In particular, the ward has established a community digital technology team in 42 residential groups, supporting people in using online public services and VNeID applications. In special cases such as the elderly and people with disabilities, ward officials come to their homes to support. The satisfaction rate of people is over 97%, many opinions highly appreciate the civilized and friendly attitude of officials when meeting people.

Mr. Pham Van Son, Phu Lien Ward shared: "I often go to the ward's Public Administration Service Center to do procedures related to real estate documents. The staff here guides very enthusiastically, speaks softly and is easy to understand. There was a time when I was not used to using online public services, but the people in the Digital Technology Team supported me very enthusiastically. I feel that the government is now closer to the people, more friendly, and no longer feels as hesitant as before."

People-centered

From recent practical operations, localities all have a common view: in the new context, along with the strong development of digital technology, the requirement to build a service government, e-government, promote digital transformation and urbanization, and the legitimate needs of people and businesses are increasingly high.

Meanwhile, the local government apparatus under the two-level model has just begun to operate, but still faces many difficulties and challenges such as: The scale of the Public Administration Service Center in some places has not met the requirements; in practice, many complicated problems have arisen, affecting the process of receiving and handling administrative procedures.

In addition, the proactiveness, flexibility and efficiency in management and operation in some areas have not kept up with practical requirements. A number of cadres and civil servants still show signs of administrativeization, not really close to the people; the application of information technology is still slow, and administrative reform is not comprehensive.

To continue promoting the effectiveness and efficiency of the Hong An ward government in the new situation, aiming to serve the people and businesses better and better, the ward Party Committee determined to thoroughly grasp and seriously implement the Party's resolutions and directives, the State's policies and laws on implementing the 2-level local government model; directing the development of a work program closely following local realities.

The ward innovates its leadership and management style towards being close to the people, serving the people, promoting the role and responsibility of setting an example for the heads of agencies and units in performing their tasks, promptly detecting and removing difficulties and obstacles right at the grassroots level, creating the most favorable conditions for people and businesses.

The ward promotes administrative reform associated with digital transformation and modernization of state management; continues to review, simplify and shorten the time for handling administrative procedures; standardizes the process of handling records; improves the quality of operations of the Public Administration Service Center; strengthens propaganda and encourages people to use online public services throughout the National Public Service Portal.

In addition, the ward prioritizes allocating investment resources to develop a synchronous and modern information technology infrastructure, fully equipped with computers, electronic devices and specialized software to serve the operations and work processing in meeting rooms, offices and the Public Administration Service Center...

Regarding Phu Lien ward, Secretary of the ward Party Committee Bui Thi Tuyet Mai said that in the coming time, the locality will continue to improve the organizational structure, improve the quality of the staff and civil servants, arrange staff in the right job positions and job title standards; link staff evaluation with work efficiency and people's satisfaction. The ward organizes periodic training on digital skills, communication skills and situation handling, and applies the quantitative KPI system to evaluate work performance, using the SIPAS and PAR Index as criteria for staff evaluation.

The ward also enhances the application of information technology, deploys paperless conferences, digitizes the entire administrative record processing process; effectively maintains a community digital technology team to support people in using online public services, with special attention to the elderly and people with disabilities.

Localities promote the role of the Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations in social supervision and criticism; diversify channels for receiving opinions and feedback from people via Zalo, Facebook and hotlines. "Skilled mass mobilization" models are widely replicated, good initiatives and effective methods are promptly rewarded, creating a driving force for vibrant competition throughout the political system.

At the same time, the ward strengthens inspection, supervision and violation prevention, paying special attention to sensitive areas such as land, investment and social policies; proactively detects, corrects and strictly handles violations, contributing to building a clean and strong government, and strengthening people's trust.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/chinh-sach-va-cuoc-song/chinh-quyen-dia-phuong-2-cap-tung-buoc-khac-phuc-tinh-trang-hanh-chinh-hoa-xa-dan-20251110210535371.htm