Currently, local authorities across the province are collecting public opinions on the proposal for reorganizing administrative units at the commune level, ensuring that the process is objective, transparent, open, democratic, and in compliance with regulations.

The draft plan for reorganizing and merging administrative units at the commune level in the province includes merging the communes of Ẳng Cang, Ẳng Nưa, and the town of Mường Ảng to form a new commune named Mường Ảng. After the merger, the new commune will have a population of over 17,600 people and cover an area of nearly 86 square kilometers. The office of the new commune will likely be located at part of the existing offices of the district-level Party Committee, People’s Council, and People’s Committee.

To build consensus among the people, on the morning of April 19, the town of Mường Ảng held a public meeting to collect opinions on various topics, including the proposed reorganization, the name of the new administrative unit, and the location of the commune’s office after the merger.

In the spirit of democracy, the meeting recorded many comments from households. The majority of the opinions were supportive, stating that the merger was necessary to streamline the administrative apparatus, increase efficiency, and create a new, more sustainable development space for local people.

Nguyễn Ngọc Anh from Ward 5, Mường Ảng town shared: “For us, the reorganization of the administrative units does not affect us much because, no matter what, we will still live and work here. Moreover, merging the units will reduce administrative procedures and streamline the administrative apparatus. Previously, the state paid salaries to three people doing the same job, but now it will pay only one. The savings can be used for national development or social welfare policies to improve people’s lives.”

The people are the primary group affected by changes in administrative boundaries. From administrative procedures to cultural life and livelihoods, the support and consensus of the people are the foundation for the success of the proposal. In fact, if the process of collecting opinions is merely formal, and the people do not fully understand the benefits, concerns and resistance may arise. On the contrary, with persuasive communication and direct dialogue, the people not only support the proposal but also offer constructive suggestions for its implementation.

In Chà Nưa commune (Nậm Pồ district), in order to build consensus among the people, before gathering direct opinions, the commune has actively promoted the central, provincial, and district policies and directions through social media platforms, loudspeakers, and meetings at the village level. Notably, for those who still had concerns, the commune’s leadership met directly with them, providing detailed and thorough explanations.

Khoàng Văn Van, Secretary of the Party Committee of Chà Nưa commune, stated that according to the draft proposal, the communes of Chà Cang, Chà Nưa, Nậm Tin, and Pa Tần will be merged to form Mường Chà Commune, with a population of nearly 14,000 people. Through surveys, while initially some people were still hesitant, fearing they would have to travel further for paperwork, the most important thing is that the name of the new administrative unit coincides with the old geographical name, which was originally Mường Chà. Therefore, the people are very pleased. When the province proposed the merger and consulted the people, they agreed with the draft plan.

According to the draft proposal for reorganizing and merging administrative units at the commune level in the province, the number of communes, wards, and towns will decrease from 129 to 45 (a reduction of 65.1%), including 42 communes and 3 wards.

Following the direction of the provincial People’s Committee, local authorities are currently collecting public opinions on the proposed reorganization and merging of administrative units through meetings with representatives of households in the affected areas (hamlets, wards, and neighborhoods...).

Nguyễn Tiến Đạt, Director of the provincial Department of Home Affairs, stated: “The process of building the proposal for the reorganization of administrative units at the commune level is being carried out according to the schedule and guidance from the central government. In April 2025, the province will take the following steps: draft the proposal, gather opinions from various levels, organize social feedback, submit the proposal to the provincial People’s Council for approval, and complete the documentation for submission to the Government. The entire process will be public, democratic, and in strict compliance with legal regulations.”

According to Đạt, the province has built the proposal in line with the principles and regulations of the central government. Specifically, the reorganization plan has considered factors such as natural conditions, transportation infrastructure, and the organization of economic spaces to maximize the potential and advantages for economic development in each area. The plan also considers the management capacity of local authorities, the level of digital transformation, and the application of information technology by local authorities and residents. It ensures national defense, security, and the development of defense areas. For the names of communes after the merger, the province prioritizes preserving and promoting the historical, cultural, and ethnic traditions of each locality, ensuring the unity of local communities.

With the spirit of “lining up while running,” the authorities are working diligently to complete the process of finalizing the proposal for the reorganization of administrative units at the commune level according to the schedule and deadlines. In this process, gathering widespread public opinion before the merger is particularly important. Successfully executing this step will not only ensure the merger proceeds smoothly but also provide an opportunity for the government to demonstrate its role “of the people, by the people, for the people,” putting the interests of the people first, in accordance with the spirit of Resolution No.18-NQ/TW from the 12th Central Committee.