Explain and clarify the contents regarding the policy on rearranging and reorganizing commune-level administrative units and merging administrative units of Gia Lai province and Binh Dinh province.

Developments at the 23rd session (special session) of the Provincial People's Council, 13th term, 2021-2026:

(BD) - Continuing the program of the 23rd session (special session) of the Provincial People's Council, 13th term, 2021-2026, on the morning of April 28, under the chairmanship of the Chairman of the Provincial People's Council Ho Quoc Dung and Vice Chairmen of the Provincial People's Council Doan Van Phi and Huynh Thuy Van, after hearing the leaders of the Provincial People's Committee present the reports and proposals submitted to the session, the delegates proceeded to discuss, and the relevant agencies gave explanations to clarify the content of the proposals submitted to the session.

Provincial Party Secretary Ho Quoc Dung delivered the concluding remarks on the discussion at the meeting hall.

According to the report on the policy of rearranging and reorganizing commune-level administrative units in Binh Dinh province, presented by the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Pham Anh Tuan, after the rearrangement, Binh Dinh province will have 58 administrative units, including 41 communes and 17 wards, a reduction of 97 commune-level administrative units compared to the current number (a reduction rate of 62.58%).

Director of the Department of Finance Nguyen Thanh Hai presented a proposal on the allocation of provincial budget funds to participate in the Quy Nhon - Pleiku Expressway construction investment project.

Regarding the proposal for the merger of administrative units of Gia Lai and Binh Dinh provinces, after the reorganization, the (new) Gia Lai province will have a natural area of ​​21,576.53 km2, a population of over 3.58 million people, and 135 subordinate commune-level administrative units (including 110 communes and 25 wards). The current location of the political and administrative center is in Quy Nhon City (Binh Dinh province).

Delegate Le Thi Vinh Huong (Tuy Phuoc) commented on the Proposal regarding the policy of rearranging and reorganizing commune-level administrative units in Binh Dinh province.

Next, representatives from the departments and agencies, as assigned by the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, presented reports and proposals on: adjusting and supplementing the medium-term public investment plan for the period 2021-2025; adjusting and supplementing the public investment plan for 2025; adjusting the budget estimate of the Provincial Ethnic Affairs Committee due to the restructuring of the state apparatus in 2025; allocating provincial budget capital to participate in the Quy Nhon - Pleiku expressway construction project; allocating operational funds for the implementation of the National Target Program for Sustainable Poverty Reduction in 2025 in the province; regulating the level of funding support for the operation of the People's Inspection Committee at the commune level in the province; supplementing the list of land areas for bidding to select investors to implement investment projects using land in the province; extending the time for allocating capital for projects using local budget funds; Policies on converting forest land to other uses; plans for utilizing increased revenue and savings in the provincial budget for 2024; adjustments and additions to the 2025 capital plan from the central government budget for the National Target Program on New Rural Development.

Delegate Nguyen Van Hung (Tay Son) highly appreciated the sense of responsibility of the non-specialized officials at the commune level in organizing the collection of public opinions on naming the new communes.

During the discussion, delegates focused their opinions on two proposals regarding the reorganization of provincial and commune-level administrative units. Accordingly, delegates noted that the entire province had been urgently implementing the contents related to the reorganization of provincial and commune-level administrative units in a "proactive and efficient" manner, creating high consensus and unity among voters and the people.

The delegates unanimously agreed with the proposal regarding the reorganization of administrative units in Gia Lai and Binh Dinh provinces.

Representative Tran Kim Vu (Van Canh) suggested that when establishing new communes and wards, the headquarters should be located in the most convenient areas for the people.

Regarding the report on the policy of rearranging commune-level administrative units in Binh Dinh province, delegates noted that localities have made great efforts and raced against time, especially in ensuring the rearrangement is scientific and based on listening to the opinions of the people and voters. The agreement to rename all new communes and wards after rearrangement, not according to the initial numbering scheme, demonstrates this commitment.

It can be said that the outcome of the Proposal on the policy of rearranging and reorganizing commune-level administrative units in Binh Dinh province, approved at the session, reflects the responsibility, dedication, thoughts, and feelings of the entire population, while also incorporating the cultural, historical, and revolutionary traditions of each region, locality, and people. However, delegates also suggested that the Proposal should standardize the name of the center, whether it should be called the Political-Administrative Center or simply the location of the office, so that localities and the people can understand it better.

Representative Le Thanh Tung (An Nhon) suggested that there should be a unified name for the Political-Administrative Center or simply the location of the office so that the local authorities and the people can understand it better.

Responding to concerns raised by delegates regarding the terminology used – some calling it the Political-Administrative Center, others simply the workplace location – the Director of the Department of Internal Affairs, Le Minh Tuan, stated that Resolution No. 76 of the National Assembly Standing Committee, issued on April 14, 2025, stipulates the terminology. Accordingly, for the reorganization of provincial-level administrative units, the name is Political-Administrative Center; while for the reorganization of commune-level administrative units, the name is simply the workplace location.

Responding to the question of why the draft resolution on the reorganization of commune-level administrative units does not specify the location of the new office, Mr. Tuan explained that, according to the guidance of the National Assembly Standing Committee and the Ministry of Interior, the draft resolution of the People's Council only requires specifying the area of ​​natural land to be merged, the population size, and the name of the newly established commune or ward, and does not require specifying the location of the new office. "The omission of the specific office location aims to facilitate local authorities in adjusting the office location to suit their needs, creating favorable conditions for the people and improving their transportation and daily lives," Mr. Tuan said.

Director of the Department of Internal Affairs, Le Minh Tuan, provided further information and explanations on issues of concern to the provincial People's Council delegates.

Concluding the discussion session, the Provincial Party Secretary and Chairman of the Provincial People's Council, Ho Quoc Dung, stated: Following the Central Committee's conclusions and resolutions on the merger of Gia Lai and Binh Dinh provinces, the Standing Committees of the two provinces held two working sessions to identify the tasks to be undertaken after the merger. Accordingly, the Standing Committees of the Provincial Party Committees of Binh Dinh and Gia Lai provinces discussed and provided feedback on the plan for reorganizing the administrative units of Gia Lai and Binh Dinh provinces, the principles for organizational restructuring and personnel assignment, the establishment of a Steering Committee for the merger of the two provinces, and the establishment of subcommittees to serve the new Gia Lai Provincial Party Congress. The plan will be completed before May 20th, and the Standing Committees of the two provinces will submit it to the Central Committee for consideration and decision.

Regarding the issue of merging administrative units at the commune and ward levels in the province, Comrade Ho Quoc Dung expressed that the Provincial Party Standing Committee has carefully considered this matter, and the implementation process must ensure three conditions: The merged communes and wards must be close to the people, effectively addressing their needs; stability must be achieved in terms of culture, history, and tradition; and a new development space must be formed. Based on this, the province will assign qualified and capable officials to effectively carry out tasks in the merged communes and wards.

“After the merger, there will be 12 new communes and wards identified by the province as key localities with significant potential, creating momentum for socio-economic development in the province. Regarding the naming, I myself was very concerned and repeatedly called and spoke with the Secretaries and Chairmen of the districts, towns, and cities, emphasizing that this is a responsibility to history and must be done with dedication and responsibility. To date, almost all place names and traditional cultural and historical memories associated with the development of the province in general, and of each locality in particular, have appeared on the administrative boundary map,” Comrade Ho Quoc Dung shared.

The Provincial Party Secretary also stated that during the upcoming April 30th and May 1st holidays, provincial leaders will not be taking time off but will instead organize working groups to conduct on-site surveys of the areas where the new commune and ward offices are planned to be located after the merger. The principle is to locate the commune and ward offices in the most convenient locations, ensuring that people do not have to travel long distances to reach the new commune or ward offices.

NGUYEN HAN - HONG PHUC

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