Highlighting the Government’s policy of "localities decide, localities act, localities take responsibility" in line with the two-tier local government model, Deputy Minister Sinh reported that the Ministry has so far submitted three Decrees to the Government and issued one Circular under its own authority on decentralization and delegation in construction and transport management.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Van Sinh speaks at the August 12 seminar on decentralization and delegation in the construction sector.

A total of 133 tasks and powers have been clearly delineated: 94 transferred from district to commune level, 22 from district to provincial level, and 17 assigned to provincial authorities to perform directly or further decentralized. Of 235 tasks under review, 118 have been decentralized or delegated. The Ministry has also issued a Circular guiding the functions, duties, and powers of specialized construction agencies under provincial and commune-level People’s Committees.

During implementation, the Ministry has received numerous requests from localities for clarification—via hotline, official documents, and the Ministry of Home Affairs’ coordination channel. It has promptly responded through direct communication, official letters, and inter-agency coordination to avoid disruptions in local governance.

Since the policy took effect, the Ministry has issued 27 written responses to ministries, localities, and businesses, addressing key issues such as: construction investment project management boards; land subdivision and plot sales; investment policy approval for urban housing projects; housing development programs; authority over construction acceptance inspections, urban/rural classification, and planning; issuance of construction permits; real estate broker practice certificates; and permits for individual houses in urban areas.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Van Sinh stressed the need to urgently remove remaining regulatory obstacles to ensure the decentralization policy is effectively implemented, thereby improving administrative efficiency and fostering local development.