Hai Phong leads in public administration reform index

The government’s Steering Committee for Administrative Reform announced the index ranking results in Hanoi on Wednesday, marking the tenth year in a row that 17 ministries and ministerial-level agencies, as well as the administration of 63 cities and provinces, have been evaluated.

The PAR Index is identified through eight component indexes: management of administrative reform process; formulating and organizing the implementation of legal documents; administrative reform; organizational reform of the state administrative apparatus; building and improving the quality of cadres, civil servants and public employees; renovating the financial mechanism for administrative agencies and public non-business units; administrative modernization; implementing the “one-stop, multi-service” mechanism.

For 2021, Hai Phong led with an index of 91.8 percent.

After four consecutive years in the lead, Quang Ninh, which borders Hai Phong and is home to Ha Long Bay, came second in 2021 with an index of 91.14 percent, followed by the central hub of Da Nang with 90.25 percent, central Thua Thien-Hue Province with 89.32 percent and northern Vinh Phuc Province with 89.28 percent.

Of all 63 cities and provinces, 60 recorded higher PAR indexes compared to 2020. The three localities with an index decrease are the provinces of Dong Nai, Tien Giang and Ha Nam.

The Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang ranks last in the 2021 PAR index and is the only locality with an index below 80 percent.

Both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City saw their rankings drop against 2020, with Hanoi falling two positions to 10th and HCMC, 20 ranks to 43rd.

Regarding state agencies, the Ministry of Justice leads with an index of 91.9 percent, followed by the Ministry of Finance with 91.71 percent and the State Bank of Vietnam with 90.37 percent.

The Ministry of Science and Technology ranks last with 78.72 percent.

Also on Wednesday, the 2021 Satisfaction Index of Public Administration Services (SIPAS), which assesses public services all over the country, was announced.

Quang Ninh and Hai Phong preserve their first and second position from 2020.

Those remaining at the bottom are Cao Bang in the north and Binh Phuoc in the south.

The index, determined by the Ministry of Home Affairs, measures the satisfaction of people and organizations through five factors: access to services, administrative procedures, how civil servants handle work, service results, the reception and settlement of comments, feedback and recommendations.

SIPAS 2021, which polled 30,000 respondents in 63 cities and provinces, showed that respondents in 46 localities said they had been “bothered” and “harassed for bribes” by civil servants while respondents in 22 localities said they had to give civil servants “tips” to have their administrative procedures completed.

More than 10 percent of respondents said they had to visit a state office more times than needed for one public service, with 6.75 percent visiting three times and 3.26 percent visiting more than four.

2021 SIPASS showed the biggest expectation among people is that administrative procedures continue to become simpler and cost less time to complete.