Deputy Nguyen Thanh Hai from the northern province of Hoa Binh, head of the People’s Aspiration Board of the NA Standing Committee, said that she and other deputies supported a breakthrough mechanism for HCMC because that is needed for the country’s economic motive force to pull the train forward.
She highly agreed with the policy of issuing a separate resolution for the city to have specific mechanisms to develop more strongly because HCMC’s responsibility to other localities and the country is very large.
Some deputies have expressed concern about the possibility of the mechanism’s impact on the central budget revenue while stronger decentralization for the city is still debated.
For instance, the draft resolution assigns HCMC to transfer the land use purpose of from 10 hectare and wider rice growing area. So far, that has come within the jurisdiction of the Prime Minister.
They said there need be frameworks and ceiling levels, suggesting that HCMC can transfer the land use purpose for less than 100 hectares and should ask for the PM’s opinion for wider area to prevent from affecting the common land fund and creating unfairness to other localities.
According to Ms. Hai, despite stronger decentralization, HCMC will bear a heavy burden. When there is breakthrough mechanism, the remaining of 62 provinces and cities will much expect the breakthrough development of the city. Therefore, the mechanism will be opportunity but also challenge. She shares the pressure with HCMC leaders and citizens because not all cities dare to face the challenge.
Deputy Nguyen Van Pha from the northern province of Nam Dinh, deputy chairman of the National Assembly Judicial Board, said that he completely advocated the mechanism and it should have been built for a long time.
At their discussion groups, some NA deputies said that HCMC has developed to the country’s locomotive thanks to favorable geopolitical conditions. So if there is a specific mechanism for the city, it will be unfair to other localities. Still Mr. Pha does not think so and keeps supporting the mechanism for the city to develop for the country.
The mechanism will involve all people in HCMC so the city should get their opinions, he suggested.
For instance, officials and cadres accounting for a small part of the city will enjoy income increase, which accounts for a small part of the city’s population. Therefore, the city should get residents’ opinions about the pilot implementation of Property Tax Law.
On the other hand, the new draft mechanism has just increased but not reduced taxes and fees. So he wondered how that will affect HCMC businesses, residents and investors.
Some investors might move to neighboring provinces and cities to buy properties. So the mechanism should count tax and fee cut to stimulate investment demand and attract investors.
