Specify responsibilities in practicing thrift and fighting waste

Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Duc Hai speaks at the Session

Reporting to the National Assembly Standing Committee, Minister of Finance Ho Duc Phoc said: Overall, the direction and administration in 2021 of the Government, the Prime Minister and ministries, branches and localities were smooth, rhythmic and synchronous to remove difficulties and obstacles, unblock resources for socio-economic development, minimize the negative impacts of natural disasters and epidemics; mobilize domestic and foreign resources for disease prevention and control and socio-economic development. Despite many difficulties and challenges, our country's economy still grew positively by 2.58%; the macro-economy was stable, 7/12 main socio-economic targets were achieved and exceeded the plan; major balances of the economy, especially the balance of state budget revenue and expenditure, were ensured, state budget revenue reached over 1,563 trillion VND, exceeding the estimate by 16.4%.

According to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly's Finance and Budget Committee, the practice of thrift and anti-waste (THTK, CLP) in the preparation, appraisal, approval of estimates, final settlement, management and use of state budget funds for tasks, targets and THTK, CLP solutions has been effective, contributing to achieving many positive results in implementing state budget and finance tasks, creating important resources in overcoming the consequences of epidemics and natural disasters, creating momentum for recovery and socio-economic development of the country.

However, the Standing Committee of the Finance and Budget Committee noted that, according to the Government's report submitted to the National Assembly at the Second Session (October 2021), the estimated shortfall in central budget revenue in 2021 of about VND 28-29 trillion has greatly affected the implementation of the tasks of the central budget. However, up to now, the Government has reported that the central budget revenue is estimated to increase by 6.7% compared to the estimate, demonstrating the Government's great efforts in strengthening the management of state budget revenue in the last months of 2021, but this also shows that the forecast and assessment of the situation are not close to reality.

Although the National Assembly has issued a Resolution on tax debt relief, late payment penalty cancellation, and late payment interest for taxpayers who are no longer able to pay the State budget and the Law on Tax Administration took effect from July 1, 2020, tax debt of enterprises still tends to increase; tax fraud, tax evasion, and invoice trading are complicated.

Although ministries and branches have paid attention to reviewing and arranging the management and arrangement of extra-budgetary state financial funds, the number of extra-budgetary financial funds is still large, some funds are small in scale and have a narrow scope; some funds have not been supplemented with enough charter capital according to the Prime Minister's decision; some funds have large balances and have to temporarily stop collecting due to the need to use the fund. The science and technology development funds of some enterprises still have high balances due to problems with the usage mechanism, leading to waste of resources.

The delay in allocating capital for national target programs has affected the implementation of growth targets, reduced the efficiency of investment capital use, greatly affected the targets; caused great waste of state budget resources and affected the ability to disburse public investment capital in 2022.

In the THTK, CLP, the procurement and use of means and equipment for agencies and organizations in the state sector; the management and use of public assets still have shortcomings and limitations: The organization and implementation of the Law on Management and Use of Public Assets in some ministries, branches and localities is still slow, and does not fully comply with the regulations. Some types of assets and fields still lack detailed regulations, are no longer in accordance with the law but have not been replaced, amended or supplemented (such as: Cultural, sports and tourism infrastructure...).

Violations in bidding, purchasing, management and use of public assets in a number of agencies and units have also occurred. Pointing out these shortcomings and limitations, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly's Finance and Budget Committee also mentioned: The congestion in purchasing medical equipment and supplies has not been resolved in a timely manner, affecting epidemic prevention work. There is still a situation of purchasing goods, equipment and supplies not in accordance with regulations, purchasing beyond demand leading to non-use or ineffective use... causing waste of the State budget.

There have also been violations of regulations on THTK and CLP related to COVID-19 prevention and control in management, research, and scientific application; bidding, procurement, management, and use of public assets, such as the case that occurred at Viet A Technology Joint Stock Company and a number of agencies and localities in the recent past, causing loss and waste of public funds and assets, causing public outrage.

Speaking at the meeting, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue said: This is a report that will supplement the socio-economic part of the Government to be discussed at the upcoming National Assembly session. According to the National Assembly Chairman, this year, the supreme supervision of THTK and CLP is being carried out. The impact of the epidemic, initially there was a large revenue shortfall, but the Government has strengthened its direction to implement the dual goal of both preventing the epidemic and developing the socio-economy, gradually adapting to the epidemic and recovering the economy.

Focus on thoroughly saving expenses, increasing the mobilization of all resources for epidemic prevention work. "To save 76,000 billion VND, it is necessary to clearly indicate which localities, ministries and sectors have done well in the work of THTK and CLP, it is necessary to clearly indicate, not to speak in general terms," ​​the National Assembly Chairman commented.

Pointing out the limitations in the Government's report, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue said that it is necessary to point out the limitations, shortcomings, and problems to clarify what has been done and what has not been done. How is the current administrative procedure reform work, how is the implementation of administrative work, it is necessary to review it to report to the new Government with bright spots. It is necessary to review the administrative procedure work, the limitations in this field, which are the subjective causes, which are the objective causes.

In the field of public investment, despite the pandemic environment, disbursement has still been good this year. So what is the reason? How slow is the disbursement of public investment capital such as the Long Thanh airport project; National Highways? It is necessary to clarify where the delay is. "It is impossible to say some places, some ministries, and branches. Who are some of them? It is necessary to specifically name which locality and agency," the National Assembly Chairman stated.

According to Minister of Finance Ho Duc Phoc, 2022 is an important year, creating a foundation and a pivotal year for implementing the goals of the 5-year Plan 2021-2025. The Government has determined the management theme of 2022 as "Solidarity, discipline, proactive adaptation, safety and efficiency, recovery and development", focusing on and prioritizing resources for COVID-19 prevention and control on the basis of flexible, creative, harmonious and effective combination between prevention and control of the pandemic and recovery and socio-economic development; implementing synchronously, comprehensively and effectively with a strict roadmap and steps for the appropriate and feasible socio-economic recovery and development program; flexibly operating and closely coordinating between fiscal policy, monetary policy and other policies; strengthening financial discipline - State budget, effectively exploiting revenue potential to increase State budget revenue, thoroughly saving expenditures; effectively mobilize social resources and prioritize the reasonable allocation of state budget resources for key tasks...

Strengthen leadership and direction on THTK and CLP at ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government agencies and People's Committees at all levels. Develop plans to implement savings targets and targets in each assigned field, in which it is necessary to assign and decentralize specific and clear responsibilities to each agency, organization, affiliated unit, each cadre, civil servant and public employee, associated with regular inspection and evaluation work, ensuring effective implementation of the Program.

Strengthening propaganda and education to raise awareness in THTK and CLP with diverse forms to raise and unify awareness and responsibility for the goals, requirements and significance of THTK and CLP for agencies, enterprises, organizations, individuals and the whole society. Timely commend and reward typical examples in THTK and CLP; protecting information providers who detect waste according to authority.

Strengthen the organization of THTK and CLP in various fields, focusing on a number of fields: State budget management; public investment capital management; public debt management; public asset management; management of resources and minerals, especially land; management of state capital and assets invested in enterprises; management of state financial funds outside the budget; labor and working time management... Promote transparency, improve the effectiveness of inspection, supervision and monitoring of THTK and CLP. Focus on transparency in the use of the state budget and assigned financial resources, public information on public debt and public investment contents according to the law.

Promote the supervisory role of the Vietnam Fatherland Front at all levels and organizations and unions in each agency and unit to promptly detect violations of THTK and CLP. Strengthen inspection and strict handling of violations of THTK and CLP regulations, focusing on a number of key contents and areas such as: Land, resource and mineral management; public investment; management and use of public assets; equitization of state-owned enterprises. Strictly implement legal regulations on handling violations against heads of agencies, units and individuals who cause waste. Strengthen administrative reform, modernize management; link THTK and CLP with the fight against corruption.

Strengthen the direction of administrative reform implementation at all levels and sectors in conjunction with THTK and CLP in all fields. Synchronously and effectively implement the goals and solutions in the Administrative Reform Program for the period 2021-2030 issued together with Resolution No. 76/NQ-CP.

According to Tin Tuc newspaper