Rearranging and reorganizing administrative units: Requires consensus and strong determination.

(QBĐT) - At the first meeting of the Provincial Steering Committee on the reorganization of district and commune-level administrative units, Comrade Le Ngoc Quang, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Head of the Steering Committee, emphasized: The decision not to organize district-level units and to continue merging commune-level administrative units is a historic step, requiring the unanimous support and high determination of the entire political system and the people. Steering committees at all levels and the entire political system must immediately begin implementation, ensuring the correct progress and adherence to the Central Government's directives, while adapting to local conditions.

It is necessary to establish a district-level steering committee.

According to the Department of Internal Affairs, Quang Binh province currently has 8 district-level administrative units (including 6 districts, 1 city, and 1 town). The total number of commune-level administrative units is 145 (122 communes, 15 wards, and 8 townships).

As of March 1, 2025, after the reorganization, the district, town, and city level (referred to as the district level) will have 81 specialized agencies remaining (a reduction of 18/99 agencies) with 633 civil servants; there will be 550 public service units with 14,952 public employees; and the commune level will have 2,899 officials and civil servants (1,527 civil servants and 1,372 public employees).

In Official Letter No. 382/UBND-NCVX dated March 12, 2025, regarding the urgent development of a plan for rearranging commune-level administrative units, the Provincial People's Committee provided the following guidance: The criteria for determining the rearrangement plan are based on historical, traditional, cultural, ethnic, religious, belief, customary, and practice factors; geographical location, natural conditions, sub-regional linkages; scale and level of economic development; national defense, security, politics, social order; and transportation and information technology infrastructure. During the rearrangement process of commune-level administrative units, it is encouraged to merge existing administrative boundaries, minimizing the adjustment of a portion of the administrative boundaries of one commune to another to create a new grassroots-level administrative unit.

Ensuring no waste of office space after the merger (pictured: The headquarters of Quan Hau town after the merger with Luong Ninh commune has been used efficiently).

To ensure timely progress as required by the Central Committee, following the principle of "running and queuing simultaneously," the process of reorganizing administrative units, Provincial Party Secretary Le Ngoc Quang requested: The Standing Committees of the District and City Party Committees must urgently establish district-level Steering Committees, develop plans for merging communes according to scientific and rational principles; and directly supervise the review and development of plans for merging commune-level administrative units in their respective localities. The People's Committees of districts, towns, and cities should proactively coordinate with the Department of Interior Affairs to implement the work, ensuring it is consistent with the practical situation of each locality and uniform throughout the province.

According to Provincial Party Secretary Le Ngoc Quang, during the planning process, special attention should be paid to the following principles: Merging and reorganizing communes and towns into new clusters of communes with larger natural areas and populations than the current standards, in accordance with local characteristics, natural conditions, and geographical location. Encouraging mergers in their current state and minimizing adjustments to administrative boundaries from one commune to another, except when necessary, is crucial for facilitating management.

The Department of Internal Affairs will take the lead, coordinating with relevant agencies to develop a detailed plan and implementation schedule, submitting it to the Provincial Steering Committee for approval, ensuring adherence to the planned timeline. The district-level Steering Committees will closely follow the provincial plan, organize its implementation seriously, and ensure the quality and progress as set out. They will regularly inspect and monitor the implementation, promptly addressing any difficulties or obstacles encountered during the process.

Highest level of political determination

According to Provincial Party Secretary Le Ngoc Quang: Streamlining the administrative apparatus must go hand in hand with improving the effectiveness and efficiency of state management, with the convenience of citizens and businesses at the center. The requirement is to proactively take the first step, prepare thoroughly, implement systematically, and ensure the restructuring process is smooth, effective, and in line with the established direction.

This is a "revolution" with far-reaching and comprehensive impacts on all aspects of social life, requiring the highest level of political determination and decisive, coordinated action in accordance with the Central Committee's directives.

Ensure that all transactions for citizens and businesses proceed normally during the merger of commune-level administrative units.

The process of restructuring the administrative apparatus inevitably leads to a surplus of officials, civil servants, and public employees. Therefore, localities need to prioritize retaining capable and qualified personnel with a spirit of innovation. Retraining and reassignment to suitable positions should be ensured, guaranteeing no disruption to local government operations. Appropriate support policies should be developed for redundant officials, civil servants, and public employees.

Party committees, government agencies, and the entire political system must do a good job in political, ideological, and communication work, organize dialogues with the people, and effectively control information to prevent malicious forces from exploiting it to disrupt public opinion and affect the overall political tasks.

In addition to emphasizing several points aimed at accelerating the process of reorganizing commune-level administrative units, such as: defining the responsibilities and tasks of each member of the Steering Committee at all levels, the heads of localities and units; closely adhering to the directives of the Central Government... the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee and Deputy Head of the Provincial Steering Committee, Tran Phong, requested that: During the reorganization process, agencies, units, and localities need to do a good job of managing and preserving records and documents, especially those related to land, to avoid loss or damage, which could affect the activities, rights, and interests of people and businesses after the merger.

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