Gov’t leader urges measures for better, transparent management of donations at historical, cultural sites

Counting donated money at Cửa Ông Temple in Quảng Ninh Province. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính has requested ministries and localities to strengthen management on donations and sponsorship money at historical and cultural relics nationwide.

In the Official Dispatch No 77/CĐ-TTg, PM Chính stated that revenue from donations and sponsorships at relics must be used publicly and transparently.

The revenue is not only for restoration and embellishment at relics and festival organisation, creating an attractive offer for tourists, but it also needs to actively contributes to community activities such as helping the poor and disadvantaged, building rural roads and doing welfare works.

However, the management of donations and sponsorships still has limitations.

Some historical and cultural relics have not reported promptly and fully their management of any money. They have not installed cameras to monitor where donations are being placed and provided accounting details on donations and sponsorships.

Additionally some tourists still place money on the altars at relics, which undermines the solemnity and purity at the place of worship.

Management of donations and sponsorships is sometimes and in some places not strict, posing risks of loss and theft.

PM Chính requested chairmen of provincial and municipal people’s committees study the Ministry of Finance’s report and recommendations on the overall inspection of donations and sponsorships management at historical and cultural relics.

They must direct relevant organisations and individuals to be public and transparent on how they collect and spend donations and sponsorships for public and festival activities.

At the same time, they should develop a plan for regular inspections to ensure that donations and sponsorships are used effectively, for the right purposes and in accordance with regulations.

Localities leaders need to detect, rectify and strictly handle organisations and individuals who violate the law and never allow waste, corruption or taking advantage of belief and religious activities for personal benefit.

The PM assigned Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Minister of Finance to be responsible for guiding localities and agencies in managing donations and sponsorship money according to regulations.

The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism will preside over and coordinate with Minister of Finance, concerned ministries and localities to study and propose to competent authorities to supplement regulations on managing donation and sponsorship money at historical and cultural relics at all levels and strictly handle violations. — VNS