Quang Binh aims to reduce more than 80% of communes and wards

On March 20, the Steering Committee (SC) of Quang Binh province on the arrangement and reorganization of administrative units at district and commune levels held its first meeting chaired by Central Party Committee member, Provincial Party Secretary Le Ngoc Quang, Head of the SC.

Provincial Party Secretary Le Ngoc Quang chaired the first meeting of the Provincial Steering Committee on the arrangement and reorganization of administrative units at district and commune levels.

Currently, Quang Binh province has 8 administrative units at district, town and city levels; 145 units at commune, ward and town levels; 81 specialized agencies at district level; 550 public service units and 2,899 commune-level officials and civil servants under the management of the government. Implementing the policy of rearranging administrative units at all levels and building a model of organizing a 2-level local government, the Department of Home Affairs is urgently deploying the work of advising on the rearrangement and reorganization of administrative units at all levels and building a model of organizing a 2-level local government to ensure progress and regulations.

At the meeting, members of the steering committee; leaders of departments, branches, sectors and localities focused on discussing practical issues, difficulties and obstacles that need to be resolved and proposed many specific solutions related to the plan for arrangement, merger and consolidation.

Delegates said that the arrangement and reorganization of commune-level administrative units is considered as ending district-level activities and bringing district activities and authority to the grassroots level. Each commune is almost a miniature district to have room for development, determining the idea of ​​merging communes rather than separating districts. For cities and towns, the arrangement must keep the urban space of the city from being divided, affecting future development. For mountainous communes, especially mountainous areas with special characteristics and locations such as border factors, very large areas, and ethnic minority areas that do not meet the criteria on population and national defense and security, the arrangement must be carefully considered.

Provincial Party Secretary Le Ngoc Quang, Head of the Steering Committee, spoke at the meeting.

Provincial Party Secretary Le Ngoc Quang requested Party committees, authorities; departments, branches and sectors to proactively implement key tasks: The Standing Committees of District Party Committees, Town Party Committees and City Party Committees urgently establish Steering Committees, develop plans for merging commune-level agencies according to scientific and reasonable principles; directly direct the work of reviewing and developing plans for merging commune-level administrative units in their localities. People's Committees of districts, towns and cities proactively coordinate with the Department of Home Affairs to implement work contents, ensuring suitability with the reality of each locality and consistency throughout the province.

Regarding the staff, retraining and reassignment to suitable positions ensure no interruption in the operation of the local government system. Develop appropriate support policies for redundant staff, civil servants and public employees.

The Steering Committee also requested to organize direct dialogues between the government and the people to clearly explain the reasons for the merger and the long-term benefits. Control information well to avoid bad forces taking advantage to disrupt public opinion.

Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council Tran Hai Chau spoke at the meeting

Quang Binh Provincial Party Secretary Le Ngoc Quang, Head of the Steering Committee on the arrangement and reorganization of district and commune-level administrative units in Quang Binh province, said that not organizing the district level, continuing to merge commune-level administrative units, reducing by more than 80%, is a historic step, requiring consensus and high determination of the entire political system and people; especially, ensuring that the government model after the arrangement operates effectively, is close to the people, and best serves the people.

Khanh Trinh