Limiting conflicts of interest in planning

Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang affirmed that it is necessary to immediately amend the Planning Law to meet the requirements of rearranging administrative units, because "if not, what will we use to manage planning?".

Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang. Photo: VIET CHUNG

Continuing the 9th session, on the morning of May 28, the National Assembly discussed in the hall the draft Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Planning.

At the meeting, many National Assembly deputies pointed out shortcomings in the work of planning, appraisal and approval.

Delegate Ta Van Ha ( Quang Nam ) wondered: "The Planning Law has been amended many times but is still very confusing. Will it need to be amended again?". The delegate commented that with the current Planning Law, the planning method has shifted from "fragmentation" to integration, multi-sectoral, interconnected and linked. This is the right way of thinking, but the organization and implementation of planning is very confusing.

“We also lack experienced conductors with vision to connect the plans. After removing sectoral plans from the national planning system, now we are adding them back, returning to the old ones? Will the simultaneous establishment of plans cause overlap and conflict?”, said National Assembly member Ta Van Ha.

Delegate Nguyen Quang Huan (Binh Duong). Photo: VIET CHUNG

Sharing the same view, deputies Pham Van Hoa (Dong Thap) and Nguyen Quang Huan (Binh Duong) said that the Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Planning (Law No. 57/2024/QH15) took effect from January 15, 2025, and now needs to be amended.

“So is the revision urgent, especially when we are rearranging administrative units and creating new development space? The planning of localities after the merger cannot be a mechanical addition of plans,” said Deputy Nguyen Quang Huan.

Some other opinions agree with the need to amend and supplement this law immediately to meet implementation needs, emphasizing the need to improve quality and limit conflicts of interest in planning.

Delegate Do Ngoc Thinh (Khanh Hoa). Photo: VIET CHUNG

Delegate Do Ngoc Thinh (Khanh Hoa) proposed to specialize the planning appraisal work by establishing a permanent council including representatives of specialized agencies and independent review agencies, instead of having to establish an appraisal council for each case with all ministries and branches.

The delegate also proposed to increase the digitalization of planning work, replace hard copies for easy storage, lookup and updating of information...

Delegate Ha Sy Dong (Quang Tri) proposed considering independence, objectivity and specialization in planning appraisal, especially provincial planning.

“The assignment of the Minister of Finance as chairman of the council needs to be reconsidered based on its suitability for the specialized functions. If it continues to be kept as in the draft, there needs to be additional mechanisms for inspection, supervision, and independent criticism to improve quality and limit conflicts of interest in planning appraisal,” said Deputy Ha Sy Dong, adding that for the contents related to adjusting the planning to suit the merger of administrative units and reorganization of local governments, it is necessary to add requirements for collecting opinions from people, social organizations, and businesses - the subjects directly affected.

The participation of these subjects, according to the delegate, will ensure that the planning reflects practical needs and creates consensus in implementation.

Delegates attending the meeting. Photo: VIET CHUNG

Delegate Nguyen Thi Thu Nguyet (Dak Lak) proposed clarifying the feedback mechanism between the planning agency and the appraisal council; the handling mechanism when asking for opinions from agencies and ministries on planning adjustments.

“In reality, asking for opinions takes a lot of time. I suggest that if there is no response within the prescribed time limit, it is considered as agreement,” the female delegate suggested.

Speaking afterwards, Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang affirmed that it is necessary to amend the law immediately to meet the requirements of rearranging administrative units, because "otherwise, what will we have to manage planning?"

Acknowledging that many of the opinions raised by the delegates were reasonable, the Minister said that the law will be comprehensively revised in the coming time.

MR. PHUONG

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/han-che-xung-dot-loi-ich-trong-quy-hoach-post797124.html