During a meeting with the Standing Committee of Phu Tho Provincial Party Committee on the afternoon of 14/7, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung requested the locality to ensure the smooth, effective, and efficient operation of the two-tier local government model, enhancing its operational and governance capacity.

The head of the Government stated that the Central Government does not have a policy for continuing widespread commune and ward reorganization. Localities need to proactively review and propose adjustments to commune-level administrative units if deemed necessary, based on practical requirements and legal provisions.

The Prime Minister also announced that competent authorities have agreed on a policy to immediately increase allowances for commune-level officials and civil servants. By the end of this year, relevant agencies will submit a comprehensive proposal on salaries and allowances within the political system.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung working with the Standing Committee of Phu Tho Provincial Party Committee, afternoon of 14/7. *Photo: VGP*

Currently, 705 communes and wards nationwide do not meet the standards for natural area or population size set by the National Assembly Standing Committee. Among these, 17 units fail to meet both standards; 529 units do not meet the area standard, and 159 units do not meet the population standard.

According to Phan Trung Tuan, Director General of the Department of Local Government (Ministry of Home Affairs), the review of sub-standard units does not mean a new round of widespread reorganization. Many communes and wards in border areas, remote regions, or those with specific historical and cultural characteristics will not be subject to adjustment, unlike in previous phases.

For small-scale communes and wards that do not meet standards and are not considered special cases, localities need to explore reorganization plans to increase their size. Provinces and cities can also propose establishing commune-level administrative units with a larger scale than current standards.

Tuan affirmed that the entire 705 sub-standard communes and wards will not be reorganized simultaneously. Instead, each case will be considered based on the specific conditions and characteristics of its locality.

According to Resolution 112/2025 of the National Assembly Standing Committee, mountainous communes must have at least 5,000 residents and an area of 100 km2; island communes must have at least 2,500 residents and an area of 15 km2; other communes must have at least 16,000 residents and an area of 30 km2. Wards must have at least 21,000 residents and an area of 5,5 km2.

Vu Tuan