To make the practice of saving and combating waste more substantive.

A comprehensive assessment of the results achieved in the first six months of 2024 shows that the work of practicing thrift and combating waste is one of the key tasks, always receiving close attention and timely guidance from the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial People's Council, and the Provincial People's Committee. However, this work still reveals shortcomings and limitations, which pose a risk of corruption and negative practices. Therefore, it is necessary to resolutely overcome these to make the practice of thrift and combating waste more effective and substantive.

Positive results

In the first six months of 2024, following the directives of the Central Government and the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial People's Committee issued mechanisms, policies, and supervisory measures regarding thrift and anti-corruption, especially in the implementation of public investment, management and use of land resources, and recurrent expenditures. As a result, significant achievements were made in various fields.

A notable highlight is the total amount saved on administrative expenses in the province, reaching 9,254 million VND. This figure was achieved through thorough cost savings across departments and agencies, particularly in public procurement, repairs, domestic and international travel, use of official vehicles, conferences, seminars, research, surveys, electricity, and fuel.

Regarding the management and use of public investment capital, the province has allocated public investment capital for 2024 in a focused manner, avoiding dispersion and spreading, and ensuring efficient use of investment capital. Capital allocation plans are only granted to projects that have completed all investment procedures and been approved by competent authorities in accordance with the law on public investment and other relevant legal documents. Priority is given to allocating capital to implement, accelerate progress, and ensure the early completion and effectiveness of important projects, projects connecting different regions, and projects that promote rapid and sustainable socio -economic development. Sufficient capital is allocated to projects with approved final accounts, transitional projects, and projects to be completed within the year to maximize investment efficiency. As of May 30, 2024, the disbursement of the 2024 capital plan reached VND 671.582 billion, achieving 13.21% of the capital plan assigned by the Prime Minister. The goal is to achieve over 95% disbursement by the end of 2024. Furthermore, measures will be taken to save on investment policies, only approving projects that are effective and consistent with the availability of public investment funds. Projects that are not truly necessary or have low investment efficiency will be reviewed, cut, or temporarily suspended. The process of appraising and approving investment policies for projects will be strictly implemented in accordance with the Law on Public Investment; this includes determining the investment scale of the project in line with the availability of funds and each source of funding allocated in the medium-term public investment plan for the 2021-2025 period. To date, 22 investment projects have been appraised and submitted for approval. The total investment for these 22 projects before appraisal was VND 2,872.66 billion. The final total investment for the 22 projects after appraisal and approval is VND 2,859.256 billion, resulting in savings of VND 13.399 billion.

Also during the first six months of the year, the entire province conducted 14 inspections and 55 audits and inspections involving 339 organizations and individuals. Thirteen inspections have been completed and conclusions issued, while the remaining inspections are still ongoing and within their inspection period. Through these specialized inspections, the following violations were discovered: A total of 1.65 billion VND was found, with a recommendation to recover the entire amount; 94 administrative penalty decisions were issued totaling 861.85 million VND, of which 848.01 million VND has been collected.

We need to get to the heart of the matter.

However, according to the Provincial People's Committee's assessment, the work of practicing thrift and combating waste still has many shortcomings and limitations. Among them, the development of thrift and waste prevention programs in some agencies and units is still behind schedule. Only 36 out of 66 agencies, units, and localities have developed thrift and waste prevention programs for 2024. Some agencies and units still have general, superficial approaches, failing to develop specific quantifiable savings targets, identify key priorities, and focus on practical action plans tailored to the characteristics and specifics of each agency, unit, and locality. The emulation movement for thrift and waste prevention has not been strongly promoted or effectively implemented. Exemplary cases of thrift and waste prevention have not been promptly identified, publicized, and replicated. Among officials and civil servants, there is still a tendency to misuse working hours or to be wasteful in the use of electricity and water in the workplace. Advisory work has not fully demonstrated responsibility, and the progress of work implementation remains slow, often requiring reminders. The management and use of public assets in agencies and units are still limited, lacking close attention and monitoring; some agencies and units still do not pay enough attention to the management of houses and land…

In the last six months of 2024, Binh Thuan focused on tasks such as tightening financial and budgetary discipline; resolutely implementing solutions to combat revenue losses, transfer pricing, tax evasion, and tax debt recovery; and strictly controlling the local budget deficit. It also accelerated the allocation, implementation, and disbursement of public investment capital and funds from the three national target programs; and expedited the implementation of key national and inter-regional public investment projects and projects with spillover effects. Simultaneously, it strengthened inspection and auditing of the effective management and use of state budget funds and assets, monitored land allocation and use for investment projects, and ensured the efficient disbursement and use of investment capital… linked with timely reward and disciplinary mechanisms to create a clear shift in awareness and implementation at agencies, units, and localities.

Binh Thuan province has also proposed several solutions to implement the above-mentioned key tasks, including continuing to promote the dissemination and education of laws on thrift and anti-waste through various forms. Emphasis will be placed on replicating and commending exemplary models in thrift and anti-waste, promptly handling agencies, units, organizations, and individuals with violations and wasteful practices; and protecting informants who detect wastefulness within their authority. Regarding the management and use of public investment capital, the province will review and promptly adjust the 2024 public investment capital plan, shifting funds from projects that are not disbursed or are slow to disburse to projects that are likely to disburse and require additional capital, avoiding the situation where allocated capital cannot be disbursed, causing waste and difficulties in management. The goal is to achieve a disbursement rate of over 95% of the 2024 public investment capital plan assigned by the Prime Minister.

By focusing on implementing the above key tasks and solutions, a strong transformation will be created in the awareness and sense of responsibility of agencies, organizations, and individuals in complying with the Law on Thrift and Anti-Corruption; improving the effectiveness of thrift and anti-corruption work of departments, agencies, units, and all levels of government in the province not only in 2024 but also in the coming period.

Comment (0)