Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has agreed to pilot stronger decentralization and authorization for HCMC on matters currently under the jurisdiction of the Government and of the Prime Minister, said a report on the Government portal this Monday. The Prime Minister has asked the city government to draw up a pilot scheme for each issue and send him a report in accordance with Resolution 16-NQ/TW of the Politburo dated August 10, 2012.

On those matters beyond the authority of the Government, the city is advised to devise an implementation scheme associated with the personal responsibility of its leadership in collaboration with relevant State agencies. Then, the municipal government shall send a report to the Government proposing the Politburo, the National Assembly and its standing committee make comments.

With a higher level of decentralization, the city with its own discretion would be able to set out regulations on a number of revenues, expenditures, fees and charges; on imposing sanctions on infringements of urban order, safety and civilization yet to be defined as administrative violations; and on the levels and procedures of sanctioning.

In addition, the city could establish a number of specialized agencies under its government; determine the number of public servants as well as their wages and allowances. Moreover, it can also delegate power to district-level people’s committees to inspect, evaluate and approve plans to dismantle deteriorating apartment buildings or those at risk of collapsing.

The Prime Minister has given approval in principle to the city to work with the ministries of finance, construction, home affairs, public security and justice, among relevant state agencies, to map out a specific decentralization scheme for submission to the Government and the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister has also allowed the city to award no-bid contracts for investors committed to projects to renovate and rebuild old apartment buildings that are in extremely dangerous condition.

The city’s chairman should make decisions within his competence and take personal responsibility before the law.

SGT