Son La city after the arrangement will have 4 wards left.

Concretize strategic decisions

The implementation of the arrangement and reorganization of commune-level administrative units (AUs) in Son La province aims to specify the goals and tasks according to Resolution No. 60-NQ/TW dated April 12, 2025 of the 11th Conference of the 13th Party Central Committee; Resolution No. 76/2025/UBTVQH15 dated April 14, 2025 of the National Assembly Standing Committee on the arrangement of administrative units in 2025; Resolution No. 74/NQ-CP dated April 7, 2025 of the Government promulgating the Plan for the implementation of the arrangement of AUs and the construction of a 2-level local government organization model and documents of competent authorities.

Comrade Luong Thi Nhu Hoa, Director of the Department of Home Affairs, said: Recognizing the significance and importance of the arrangement of commune-level administrative units, the Department has proactively advised and submitted to competent authorities plans to arrange commune-level administrative units in the province, including plans to reduce 70%, 80% or 50% of the number of commune-level administrative units currently in the province. Pursuant to Resolution No. 60-NQ/TW of the Party Central Committee and Resolution No. 76/2025/UBTVQH15 of the National Assembly Standing Committee on the arrangement of administrative units in 2025, the Provincial Party Committee issued Conclusion No. 1590-KL/TU on April 28, 2025, accordingly, Son La province will arrange 193 commune-level administrative units into 68 communes and wards (including 60 communes and 8 wards) and keep 7 communes. After the arrangement, the whole Son La province is expected to have 75 commune-level administrative units (8 wards, 67 communes).), reducing 125 commune-level administrative units (including 110 communes, 7 wards, 8 towns), reducing 62.5% of the current number of commune-level administrative units in the province.

Meeting of the Provincial Party Committee's Steering Committee 398 on streamlining the organization and apparatus in the political system. Photo: PV

In the process of developing the Project on the arrangement of administrative units at the commune level, the Party Committee and the government of Son La province always comply with the Constitution and current legal regulations. Accordingly, the administrative units at the commune level after the arrangement must ensure that the local government at the commune level effectively manages the area, has a firm grasp of the situation, is close to the people, and serves the people best. The arrangement of administrative units at the commune level is carried out for units with similar historical and cultural traditions; adjacent geographical locations; and appropriate scale, potential, advantages, and economic development level.

The arrangement of commune-level administrative units is also taken into account by Son La province in terms of natural conditions, traffic infrastructure, distribution and organization of economic spaces to ensure maximum promotion of the potential and advantages of economic development of each locality, supporting each other to promote the common socio-economic development of administrative units after the arrangement.

Carefully consider factors related to the level and management capacity of local Party committees and authorities, the level of digital transformation and application of information technology by local authorities and people; ensure requirements on national defense and security, build solid defense zones in key areas and border areas; preserve and promote historical, cultural and ethnic traditions of each locality; ensure national defense, security, order, social safety, and socio-economic development in the locality.

In the process of implementing the policy of organizing a two-level government apparatus and arranging communal-level administrative units, Son La province has implemented it in accordance with local realities, gaining the people's consensus, trust, and high agreement.

Agree, trust the arrangement policy

According to the current Law on Organization of Local Government, the Project on the arrangement of administrative units at the commune level must be consulted with the people in the administrative units directly affected. Consulting with the people is one of the important and meaningful contents; promoting democracy, so that each person can directly participate in the process of arranging administrative units, for the common development of the homeland and the country.

Based on the opinions of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, from April 17 to 19, in 2,114 villages, hamlets, sub-areas, and residential groups of 193 communes, wards, and towns directly related to the arrangement of administrative units at the commune level, conferences were held to collect people's opinions on the policy of arranging administrative units at the commune level. The process of collecting people's opinions was carried out through the form of distributing ballots to collect opinions of household voter representatives, ensuring publicity, democracy, and objectivity.

Voters of Ward 6, Quang Huy Town, Phu Yen District, voted unanimously to approve the plan to rearrange and reorganize commune-level administrative units. Photo: PV.

According to the synthesis results of the Department of Home Affairs, people in 193 administrative units of communes with arrangements agreed and highly supported the policy and plan for organizing the arrangement of administrative units at the commune level, specifically: The total number of voters representing households participating in the consultation was 262,078 people, accounting for 93.58% of the total number of households of 193/200 administrative units at the commune level directly related to the arrangement of administrative units; the agreement rate was 93.16%.

The consensus and support of the majority of people is an important premise for Son La to continue implementing the major policy of the Party and State on reorganizing commune-level administrative units to meet the requirements of expanding the development space of commune-level administrative units while still ensuring the local rights at the grassroots level to be close to the people, serving the people; towards building a model of organizing a two-level local government.

Moc Chau town is one of the localities with a high rate of agreement, with 99.07%. Mr. Trang A Tua, Party cell secretary, head of Phieng Cai village, Long Sap commune, Moc Chau town, shared: The people of Phieng Cai border village agree with the arrangement of administrative units at the commune level. We believe in the policy of arranging administrative units at the commune level to expand the space for local development. Phieng Cai village, together with the Party Committee, government and people of Long Sap commune, Moc Chau town, promote the spirit of solidarity, join hands, build the homeland to develop more and more, bringing a peaceful and prosperous life to the people.

According to the arrangement plan, Muong Bu commune, Muong La district is expected to merge with Muong Chum and Ta Bu communes. Realizing that reducing focal points and streamlining the apparatus will create resources for rural infrastructure development, the staff, civil servants and public employees working in the localities are all excited and in agreement.

Mr. Ca Van Don, Chairman of the People's Committee of Muong Bu Commune, said: Cadres, party members and people in the commune agree and support the policy and plan to rearrange the commune-level administrative units, because this is a correct policy, for the common development of the country, to better care for the people's lives. We believe that the new commune apparatus after the rearrangement will quickly stabilize its organization, operate effectively; continue to lead the people to develop the economy - society, and build an increasingly prosperous homeland.

The 30th thematic session of the 15th Provincial People's Council passed a Resolution on the policy of arranging commune-level administrative units in Son La province. Photo: PV

Based on the results of public consultation, the Department of Home Affairs presided over and coordinated with agencies and units to complete the Project on arranging administrative units at the commune level of the Provincial People's Committee, and at the same time advised the Provincial People's Committee to issue a document requesting the People's Committees at the district and commune levels to submit to the People's Councils at the same level for consideration and voting on the policy of arranging administrative units at the commune level in the area. Result: 193/193 People's Councils at the commune level; 12/12 People's Councils at the district level and the Provincial People's Council held meetings and issued resolutions on the policy of arranging administrative units at the commune level in the districts, cities and towns (100% of People's Council delegates at all levels attending the vote approved the policy).

Son La City will reorganize 12 communes and wards into 4 wards, reducing 66.7% of the current number of commune-level administrative units. Comrade Ha Trung Chien, member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Secretary of the City Party Committee, informed: Cadres, party members and people of the City highly agree with the Project on reorganizing commune-level administrative units. Based on the actual number of staff, personal wishes, job positions, and training expertise, the Standing Committee of the City Party Committee and the Standing Committee of the City Party Committee agreed on the proposed plan for arranging cadres, civil servants and public employees for new administrative units (after reorganization) for cadres under the arrangement of the Standing Committee of the City Party Committee. Cadres and party members of the City always uphold their spirit and responsibility, focus on performing assigned tasks, and are ready to perform new tasks when assigned.

Conference to collect opinions on the plan to arrange cadres and civil servants in the new administrative unit of Son La City. Photo: PV

 

On May 2, 2025, the Ministry of Home Affairs submitted to the Government the Project on the arrangement of administrative units at the commune level in Son La province. According to Plan No. 74/KH-CP of the Government, before May 30, 2025, the Government will complete the Project on the arrangement of administrative units at the provincial and commune levels and submit it to the National Assembly and the National Assembly Standing Committee for consideration and approval.

The Resolution on the arrangement of commune-level administrative units of Son La province is expected to take effect from July 1, 2025. With a tight deadline and a large amount of work, the province is currently focusing on propaganda, raising awareness, creating unity among cadres, party members, consensus in the political system and local people on continuing to streamline the organizational apparatus, arrange administrative units, and organize 2-level local governments.

Comrade Luong Thi Nhu Hoa, Director of the Department of Home Affairs, added: The Department of Home Affairs focuses on consulting and submitting to competent authorities some important contents such as: Plan to organize specialized departments under 75 People's Committees of new communes and wards; arranging public service units in the fields of education and training, health; the field of communication - culture; district-level investment project management boards, land fund development centers... Implementing regimes and policies for redundant cadres, civil servants, public employees and non-professional workers at the commune level (if any) due to the arrangement and reorganization of administrative units. Reviewing, adjusting, supplementing records, maps of administrative unit boundaries at the commune level, classifying administrative units at the commune level. Guiding the implementation of policies for people with meritorious services, handing over archived records in the province and other contents according to assigned functions and tasks...

With the highest efforts and determination of the entire political system, the support and consensus of all classes of people, we believe that Son La province will successfully implement the major policy of the Party and State on reorganizing commune-level administrative units, building a two-level local government model, organizing a streamlined, strong, efficient, effective and efficient local government apparatus, creating a driving force to promote socio-economic development and improve people's lives.

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