Addressing the Challenges of Local Government at Two Levels - Final Part: Expectations for Substantive Solutions

Faced with a surge in workload and a shortage of specialized personnel following the merger, the provinces of Tay Ninh, Dong Thap, and Vinh Long have been proactively implementing many groundbreaking solutions, from increasing the deployment of officials to thoroughly applying digital technology. These efforts aim not only to address internal obstacles but also to achieve the ultimate goal: building a smoothly functioning and efficient local government, with citizen satisfaction as the benchmark.

Breakthroughs in improving and enhancing the quality of human resources.

Officials and civil servants at the Tan Ninh Ward Public Administrative Service Center handle administrative procedures for citizens. Photo: Minh Phu/TTXVN.

Recognizing that the biggest bottleneck was the shortage of personnel and the lack of suitable expertise, the provinces have implemented solutions regarding organizational structure.

Vice Chairman of the Tay Ninh Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Hong Thanh requested: "Localities must clearly identify areas with shortages and surpluses of personnel, and then arrange, transfer, or retrain staff accordingly; in cases where the requirements cannot be met, disciplinary action must be taken according to regulations." He also requested that localities quickly develop job position plans, considering this a crucial basis in the new model.

In Vinh Long, to address the shortage and weakness in professional expertise, the province has directed a review and implementation of a plan to scientifically and rationally assign commune-level officials and civil servants to appropriate positions. Specifically, the Department of Internal Affairs has issued a decision to transfer 70 civil servants and public employees from provincial departments and agencies to work at the People's Committees of communes and wards, aiming to promptly supplement personnel with specialized expertise in each field at the commune level.

Dong Thap province is also applying a similar strategy, strengthening the deployment of provincial-level officials and staff to work at the commune level, especially in specialized positions related to land, finance, and science and technology , in order to build a quality workforce at the commune level. Le Quang Khoi, Director of the Department of Science and Technology of Dong Thap province, proposed opening short-term training courses on information technology skills and information security, as well as developing a plan to train commune and ward officials for a second degree in information technology to standardize the workforce.

One of the most important solutions to reduce the workload for officials and speed up the processing of administrative procedures is to promote digital transformation and improve the quality of online public services.

Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Dong Thap province, Huynh Minh Tuan, emphasized: The organization and operation of the commune-level Public Administrative Service Centers in Dong Thap province have basically ensured stable and smooth operation, meeting the needs of resolving administrative procedures for people and businesses in the locality.

To bring public services closer to the people, Dong Thap province has established 1,890 community-based digital technology teams with a core force of Youth Union members and students, stationed at public administrative centers or neighborhood and hamlet headquarters, ready to guide people on how to submit applications online. An My Hung commune has a model of guiding people through procedures and delivering documents to their homes for the elderly, those living alone, and those with transportation difficulties.

Mr. Ho Thanh Tuan, a resident of My An Hung commune, Dong Thap province, said: "Upon entering, we were greeted by officials who greeted us warmly, inquired about our well-being, and provided enthusiastic support, working very quickly." Mr. Tran Trong Huu, Deputy Director of the My An Hung Commune Public Administrative Service Center, affirmed that the Center's staff are always enthusiastic and cheerful, contributing to the implementation of a friendly government for the people in the newly established commune.

This dedicated service has had a positive effect. Mr. Vo Van Chau, a resident of An Thanh Thuy commune, Dong Thap province, happily shared: "Delegating authority to the commune level to handle administrative procedures in the area has helped people save a lot of time and travel costs."

According to Mr. Vo Quoc Thang, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dong Tam Joint Stock Company, the transition to a two-tiered local government model after the merger of Long An and Tay Ninh is considered a very correct and accurate policy. In today's digital age, this model helps to process documents for citizens and businesses faster than before.

According to Huynh Thanh Toan, Chairman of the People's Committee of Gia Thuan commune (Dong Thap province), the commune has instructed its officials and staff to receive applications quickly, process them on time, and promptly communicate with residents if any issues arise.

Expectations for sustainable development

Citizens carry out administrative procedures at the Vinh Kim Commune Public Administrative Service Center, Vinh Long province. Photo: Thanh Hoa/TTXVN.

Localities also use the results of serving the people as an important measure to improve operational efficiency. Vinh Long province has strived to improve its ranking in the Index of Serving People and Businesses in Implementing Administrative Procedures and Providing Public Services (according to Decision No. 766/QD-TTg dated June 23, 2022 of the Prime Minister), from rank 34 to rank 25.

Ms. Ho Thi Hoang Yen, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Vinh Long Provincial Party Committee, emphasized: The province is strengthening coordination among Party and government agencies, the Fatherland Front, and political and social organizations under the new model, promoting social criticism, creating consensus among the people, and serving the province's overall development tasks. Vinh Long is determined to continue improving the effectiveness of propaganda and guidance for people to complete all online applications, ensuring transparency in administrative procedures.

According to Truong Le Minh Thong, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of An Binh commune (Vinh Long province), the commune aims to improve the quality of service provided to citizens and businesses in real time electronically, because each improved criterion directly enhances the efficiency of public service delivery. Decentralization has enabled An Binh commune to handle many new procedures such as adoption, marriage involving foreign nationals, land use conversion, and business license issuance, allowing people to complete these processes locally, saving time and costs.

In addition to addressing current administrative issues, localities are placing high expectations on the new model to promote sustainable socio-economic development.

My Yen commune (Tay Ninh province) has proposed expanding National Highway 1A and upgrading the surface of Provincial Road 830D to ensure seamless connectivity with the interchanges of key transportation projects (Ben Luc - Long Thanh Expressway, Ho Chi Minh City - Trung Luong Expressway, Ring Road 3, and Provincial Road 830C). These are concrete infrastructure solutions to realize the region's economic development expectations.

Vinh Long province has requested the central government to continue issuing additional specific policies for areas with ethnic minority populations and to allocate more capital to continue investing in and upgrading the road system and agricultural infrastructure. Chairman of Phuoc Vinh commune People's Committee, Nguyen Van Cuong, stated that this investment aims to meet the economic development and living standards needs of ethnic minority people.

According to Ho Thi Hoang Yen, Deputy Secretary of the Vinh Long Provincial Party Committee: With the determination of the entire political system, the two-tiered local government model will continue to be perfected, operate more effectively, and better meet the requirements of development and serve the people.

For the three provinces of Tay Ninh, Dong Thap, and Vinh Long, the two-tiered local government model has initially brought about changes in organizational structure and public service, but still faces many bottlenecks in personnel, decentralization, and infrastructure. The efforts of these localities to achieve autonomy, along with mechanisms to address these challenges from the central government, are opening up a more flexible path forward. However, for the model to become truly effective, further institutional improvements, standardized personnel, investment in technology, and prioritizing citizen satisfaction as the most crucial evaluation criterion are necessary.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/thoi-su/go-kho-chinh-quyen-dia-phuong-hai-cap-bai-cuoi-ky-vong-giai-phap-thuc-chat-20251211104244466.htm