Adjustment plan for types of planning following the administrative unit reorganization

Ministers of ministries and chairpersons of provincial-level People's Committees are authorized to appoint contractors and select consulting organizations to adjust planning according to the procedures and processes for contractor appointment as prescribed by the law on bidding.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NT_rG4WkUV8

The Ministry of Finance has just submitted to the Government a draft resolution proposing solutions to continue implementing planning work in connection with the administrative unit reorganization, during the period before the amended Law on Planning is issued.

The key contents of the draft resolution include: Implementing the 2021–2030 planning period that has been decided or approved before July 1, 2025; Developing and adjusting planning for the 2021–2030 period when reorganizing provincial-level administrative units and establishing a two-level local government structure.

Regarding the implementation of the 2021–2030 planning period approved before July 1:

The Ministry of Finance proposes that competent authorities be allowed to use the names, locations, and geographical boundaries of administrative units before the provincial-level merger, as defined in national, regional, and provincial planning for 2021–2030 (already approved or decided), in combination with the names, locations, and geographical boundaries after the merger. This combination would be used for the appraisal and approval of investment policies, as well as the appraisal and approval of investment decisions for programs, projects, and tasks—until new legal regulations on planning are issued.

Image: Nguyễn Huế

For localities undergoing the merger of provincial-level administrative units, competent authorities are permitted to base their investment policy appraisals and decisions, as well as the appraisal and approval of programs, projects, and tasks, on provincial planning or approved adjusted provincial planning for the 2021–2030 period that aligns with the corresponding provincial plans before the merger.

Regarding the adjustment of national, regional, and provincial planning for the 2021–2030 period:

The Ministry of Finance proposes that adjustments follow the simplified procedure outlined in Article 54a of the Law on Planning, applied as follows: national, regional, and provincial plans for 2021–2030 currently under adjustment but not yet approved, and those for which adjustment proposals were approved before this resolution takes effect, will continue to be adjusted per the Law on Planning.

Plans submitted for approval of adjustment before the resolution's effective date but not yet approved will still be considered for approval by the competent authorities. If the adjustment is approved, the plan will proceed under Article 54a of the Planning Law.

The Ministry of Finance recommends no new adjustments to plans after this resolution comes into effect, except in cases where there is a written directive or conclusion from the Politburo, the Secretariat, key leaders, a resolution of the National Assembly, Standing Committee of the National Assembly, Government resolutions, or decisions of the Prime Minister concerning national defense and security, administrative unit reorganization, national key projects, emergency projects, or urgent tasks that result in changes to one or more planning elements.

For provinces that have merged, the provincial People's Committee chairman approves adjustments to the provincial plans of the former administrative units and reports the results to the Prime Minister.

Adjusted national, regional, and provincial plans for 2021–2030 will remain in effect until they are replaced or adjusted again.

On the development and adjustment of 2021–2030 plans during the reorganization of provincial-level administrative units and establishment of two-tier local governments:

For national marine spatial plans, national sectoral plans, regional plans, and provincial plans, the Ministry of Finance proposes simultaneously developing and adjusting national, regional, and provincial plans in accordance with current planning laws. Ministries and provincial People's Committees will be responsible for initiating and implementing these adjustments.

Specifically:

• The Ministry of Finance will lead the adjustment of the national master plan and six socio-economic regional plans based on approved regional divisions.

• The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment will finalize the national land-use plan adjustments and national marine spatial plan adjustments.

• Ministries assigned to national sectoral planning will adjust those plans.

• Provincial People's Committees will adjust provincial plans based on the administrative boundaries after the merger.

The Ministry of Finance proposes not requiring the development, appraisal, or approval of planning tasks; not requiring strategic environmental assessments for adjusted plans.

Ministries and provincial People's Committees will adjust approved public investment plans or recurrent spending estimates for 2025 to carry out planning adjustments.

Ministers and provincial People's Committee chairpersons are permitted to directly award contracts and select consulting organizations to adjust plans, in accordance with bidding regulations.

The Ministry of Finance also recommends stipulating requirements for documentation, procedures, and authorities responsible for appraising and approving planning.

According to the Ministry:

• For national land-use planning: documentation and decision-making authority will follow current regulations.

• For the national master plan: planning adjustment tasks do not require separate development, appraisal, or approval to shorten the process; public consultation periods will be shortened from 30 days to 10 days (matching the fast-track procedure for legal documents); strategic environmental assessments will not be required; and no appraisal of adjustments is necessary.

Original from Vietnamnet