Merging communes and wards: Streamlined administrative apparatus, broader connectivity.

Merging communes and wards has been bringing about core benefits, most notably streamlining the administrative apparatus and strengthening community connections.

Merging commune and ward-level administrative units is an important solution in the current administrative reform process, aiming to restructure the organization, streamline the apparatus, improve management efficiency, and expand development space for localities.

From practical experience, two outstanding benefits of merging communes and wards are clearly visible: streamlining the administrative apparatus and strengthening community connections – a crucial foundation for sustainable development.

Streamlined management

Historically, most provinces and cities in Vietnam have undergone administrative boundary changes, including mergers or separations at various stages. Many communes and wards have also been merged, significantly streamlining the administrative apparatus and making it more efficient.

Merging communes helps streamline the administrative apparatus and expand connections. Photo: Quoc Huy

As one of the outstanding localities in the reorganization of commune-level administrative units during the 2016-2021 period, Thanh Hoa province merged 143 communes to form 67 new communes, reducing the number by 76; and merged 3,100 villages and residential areas to form 1,522 villages and residential areas, reducing the number by 1,578.

During this period, Thanh Hoa province also exceeded its target for downsizing the workforce in accordance with Resolution No. 39-NQ/TW, reducing the number of cadres, civil servants, and public employees by over 10%.

Furthermore, as part of the district and commune-level administrative unit restructuring plan for the 2023-2025 period, the province successfully merged Dong Son district into Thanh Hoa city and consolidated 23 communes into 11 new communes. Currently, Thanh Hoa province has 26 district-level administrative units (22 districts, 2 towns, and 2 cities) and 547 commune-level administrative units.

Speaking with a reporter from the Industry and Trade Newspaper, Ms. Tran Huyen Trang, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Phu Son Ward, Thanh Hoa City (Thanh Hoa Province), said that after the merger of Phu Son Ward and Tan Son Ward (residing under the name Phu Son Ward), Phu Son Ward has a natural area of ​​2.70 km2 and a population of 33,359 people, becoming a large ward, ranking among the top wards in Thanh Hoa City.

“The merger of Tan Son ward into Phu Son ward has created positive changes, maximizing land and population resources, expanding planning space, and unlocking the local development potential. In particular, the merger of the two wards has streamlined the administrative apparatus, reduced staffing levels, improved the quality of work of officials and civil servants, and saved costs on infrastructure and equipment. This has created favorable conditions for socio -economic development, improved the material and spiritual lives of the people, and facilitated local government administration,” Ms. Trang shared.

After the merger of communes and wards, the administrative apparatus was streamlined and the people's lives were improved. Photo: Quy Huy

According to Ms. Trang, after the merger, the ward maintained continuous operation, ensuring effectiveness and efficiency; without disrupting the lives and activities of the people or the production and business of units and enterprises located in the area.

Not only in Phu Son ward or Thanh Hoa province, but throughout the country, the effectiveness of merging communes is easily noticeable. This policy not only reduces administrative layers and saves budget, but also creates favorable conditions for planning and reorganizing socio-economic development in a more systematic and efficient way. Thanks to the streamlined administrative apparatus, all urgent needs and difficulties of the people are resolved quickly and promptly.

In particular, after streamlining, some communes have accelerated the construction of advanced and model new rural areas, thanks to their ability to mobilize resources more effectively and manage them more efficiently.

Wide range of connections

The policy of merging commune-level administrative units is a strategic step aimed at streamlining the state management apparatus, improving operational efficiency, and rationally allocating resources for development. Besides the efficiency of the administrative apparatus, one of the important impacts worth noting is the potential for strengthening community connections.

People in previously isolated and disconnected communities are now united within a common socio -political organization, thus forming a larger, more diverse, and more promising community space. Through activities such as voter conferences, traditional festivals, and movements to build a cultured way of life, people have more opportunities to exchange ideas, interact, cooperate, and develop together.

For example, in Quan Hoa district, a mountainous district of Thanh Hoa province, the merger of communes promises to create strong communities in both "quality and quantity".

Merging communes and wards will create opportunities for communities and people of different ethnic groups to come closer together. Photo: Quoc Huy

Speaking with a reporter from the Industry and Trade Newspaper, Mr. Pham Anh Toan, Vice Chairman of the Quan Hoa District People's Committee, shared: “Mountainous areas have the unique characteristic of a large geographical area and diverse ethnic groups and customs. Residential areas and villages are often formed based on similarities in history, culture, language, and traditions. Therefore, merging communes is not only an administrative policy but also opens up many opportunities for local authorities to leverage the role of village elders, community leaders, and influential people in order to strengthen solidarity and consensus among the people.”

"Furthermore, merging communes creates opportunities for expanding interaction between residential areas and ethnic groups, thereby strengthening understanding, sharing, and cohesion among communities. On that foundation, the policies and guidelines of the Party and State can be integrated and implemented more effectively and extensively to every citizen," Mr. Toan added.

Not only in mountainous and highland areas, but also in large cities, the merger of communes and wards will make a significant contribution to strengthening community cohesion.

“Previously, before the merger, the residential areas bordering each other geographically operated independently, under the direction of the Party committees and governments of the two wards, with no connection between them. However, after the merger, the bordering residential areas have had the opportunity to interact and exchange experiences in their work, increasing solidarity. This has also created more favorable conditions for monitoring the area and ensuring security, order, and environmental sanitation,” shared Ms. Tran Huyen Trang, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Phu Son Ward, Thanh Hoa City.

It is evident that merging communes and wards not only brings efficiency in administrative management but also contributes to the formation of stronger, more cohesive communities that are better able to adapt to the development requirements of the new era. With a long-term vision, this policy needs to continue to be implemented flexibly, with listening to feedback from the grassroots, so that "compact management, broad connectivity" truly becomes a driving force for sustainable development for each locality and the entire nation.

National Emblem

Source: https://congthuong.vn/sap-nhap-xa-phuong-gon-trong-bo-may-rong-trong-ket-noi-383349.html