Questions from "insiders"

VHO - “First of all, there are still some limitations in terms of organizational structure and human resources at the local level. Some positions such as information technology, agriculture, education, health… lack specialized expertise, while the workload is large, with many new and complex issues arising, especially when many tasks are more strongly decentralized and delegated from higher levels, causing many officials and civil servants to experience psychological pressure, and the efficiency of handling work is not as desired.”

Continuing from "After nearly a year of operating a two-tiered government": "Running while queuing"

After nearly a year of operating the two-tiered government system: Fundamental problems emerge.

Besides the advantages, the leaders of Hoai An commune ( Gia Lai province) shared with the Culture reporter after nearly a year of operating the two-tiered government model.

Hoai An focuses on reviewing and strictly managing historical and cultural relics.

Apply multiple methods

Compared to many other communes and wards in Gia Lai province, Hoai An is one of the localities that still retains its name after the merger, based on the name of the former Hoai An district. After the merger, to ensure the smooth and efficient operation of the new government, Hoai An has implemented many innovative approaches to bring the culture and information sector closer to the people.

According to Ms. Do Thi Thu Hang, Head of the Culture and Social Affairs Department of the Hoai An Commune People's Committee, one of the highlights in recent times is the diversification of propaganda methods, combining traditional and modern approaches, such as using social media, Zalo community groups, and electronic information portals to quickly convey policies and guidelines to the people.

Furthermore, Hoai An has proactively developed models such as "Digital Family" and "Community Digital Technology Teams," gradually guiding people to access online public services, improving digital skills, and contributing to the formation of technology-using habits in daily life. At the same time, it has leveraged the role of mass organizations, grassroots communicators, and influential community members in disseminating information and mobilizing support, creating widespread and sustainable effectiveness.

Thanks to the application of many innovative approaches, state management of culture and arts in Hoai An has been increasingly strengthened and systematized. The locality has focused on reviewing and strictly managing historical and cultural relics; at the same time, it has implemented solutions to preserve and promote the value of relics associated with traditional education and community tourism development. In addition, the building of cultural families and cultural villages has seen significant progress; grassroots cultural institutions such as cultural centers and sports facilities have been invested in, upgraded, and effectively utilized. Cultural, artistic, and sports activities are vibrant, attracting a large number of people to participate, contributing to building a healthy cultural environment…

The People's Committee of Hoai An commune affirmed that the achievements in the field of culture and arts have made a significant contribution to raising the intellectual level of the people, preserving the national cultural identity, and creating social consensus.

There are still difficulties.

The implementation of the two-tiered government model has yielded many positive results, particularly in enhancing the initiative and flexibility of local governments and bridging the gap in service to the people. However, during the implementation process, localities have also encountered certain shortcomings and difficulties. And the field of culture and arts has also been affected by this.

Meritorious Artist Nguyen Phu from the Culture, Information and Sports Center of Tuy Phuoc commune shared: Culture is an important part of ideology that has always been a priority for our Party and State. Implementing the policy of operating a two-tiered local government after the merger has had both favorable and challenging aspects.

Speaking from the perspective of someone with extensive experience in the field of local culture and sports, Meritorious Artist Nguyen Phu posed the question: “After the merger, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Centers in various localities are organized, arranged, and operate differently. So, which model is suitable: one public service center per commune or one inter-commune/ward activity center? And will cultural, artistic, and sports activities be concentrated only at the new center, or will they be distributed evenly to all communes and wards to suit the new development space?”

Moreover, after the merger, most amateur theater troupes and folk singing clubs in Gia Lai faced numerous difficulties, such as a narrowed scope of activities, reduced organization of teaching, training, monthly activities, and performances for the public; most of the club names were no longer appropriate and needed to be re-established, adjusted, and strengthened to resume operations.

According to Meritorious Artist Nguyen Phu, the State has promptly addressed the preferential treatment for amateur and Meritorious Artists, but for non-professional theater troupes and folk singing clubs, both short-term and long-term plans are urgently needed. Along with that, preferential policies and mechanisms are necessary to ensure stable operation and development, contributing to the preservation and promotion of traditional cultural heritage values.

Regarding support for amateur art troupes and artisans working in the cultural field, Mr. Lam Hai Giang, Vice Chairman of the Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee, shared: The province recognizes that traditional art troupes are facing many economic difficulties, despite receiving the love of the people. Therefore, support is necessary to preserve culture. According to Mr. Giang, the former Binh Dinh province already had regulations on this support. In the future, after the merger of the provinces (Binh Dinh and Gia Lai), the authorities will review and issue a unified support policy for the entire new province so that artisans can confidently continue to contribute.

“The province has established working groups and assigned officials from various departments and agencies to provide direct support to the communes until the work runs smoothly before withdrawing,” Mr. Giang added. Some communes are experiencing staff shortages due to officials retiring after the merger; the province is ready to deploy officials from the “personnel bank” to provide support, including positions such as Vice Chairman of the Commune People's Committee if the locality has a need,” Mr. Giang said.

Overcoming difficulties to operate effectively.

To ensure the two-tiered government model operates effectively, Mr. Hoang Anh Ngoc, Chairman of the People's Committee of Hoai An commune, shared: “First of all, there are still some limitations in the local organizational structure and human resources. Currently, the commune has three specialized departments and a Public Administrative Service Center with 32 staff members out of 43 allocated positions. Some positions, such as information technology, agriculture, education, and health, lack specialized expertise, while the workload is large, with many new and complex issues arising, especially when many tasks are more strongly decentralized and delegated from higher levels, causing many officials and civil servants to experience psychological pressure, resulting in less than desired work efficiency. This is especially true in areas related to digital transformation, administrative reform, and multi-sectoral management.”

Furthermore, the policy on salary reform linked to job positions has been slow to implement, somewhat affecting the dedication of officials and civil servants. Due to changes in administrative boundaries, job positions, and shifts in living spaces, many officials face difficulties in balancing work and family life.

According to Mr. Ngoc, the implementation of decentralization, delegation of power, and delineation of authority still faces obstacles. Some legal documents and administrative procedures have not been adjusted in a timely manner, causing difficulties for local authorities in the implementation process; guidance on implementation in some areas has not been timely or consistent. Meanwhile, the physical infrastructure and technical facilities, especially information technology infrastructure, in Hoai An are still limited.

"The equipment used for digital transformation and online administrative procedures does not fully meet the requirements; the live transmission signal is sometimes unstable, affecting the quality of online conferences from the central government, provinces to localities, and services for citizens and businesses," Mr. Ngoc shared.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/van-hoa/nhung-cau-hoi-tu-nguoi-trong-cuoc-231312.html