Joint Circular No. 01/1999/TTLT-BKH-BTC-BLDTBXH guides the planning for integrating programs and projects participating in poverty reduction efforts.

JOINT CIRCULAR

Guidelines for planning the integration of programs and projects participating in poverty reductionprogramme, project participating in the implementation of poverty reduction

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Pursuant to Article 2, Point 4 of Decision No. 133/1998/QĐ-TTg dated July 23, 1998 of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs hereby provide guidelines for planning the integration of programs and projects participating in poverty reduction as follows:

I. PLANNING OF PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS PARTICIPATING IN POVERTY REDUCTION

A. CONCEPT OF PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS PARTICIPATING IN POVERTY REDUCTION (XĐGN)

Programs and projects with objectives, tasks, and resources that directly benefit poor individuals and poor communes are referred to as programs and projects participating in poverty reduction.

According to the above concept, during the period from 1998 to 2000, there were 21 domestic and international cooperation programs and projects participating in poverty reduction (details of each program are provided in Appendix 01 attached hereto).

B. PLANNING OF PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS PARTICIPATING IN POVERTY REDUCTION

The planning of programs and projects participating in poverty reduction aims to coordinate the resources of different programs and projects towards the common goal of poverty reduction. The planning process is carried out as follows:

1. At provincial level

- Annually, during the plan formulation phase (August, September), the People's Committee of provinces and cities assigns the Department of Planning and Investment, which serves as the permanent office of the National Target Program Steering Committee on the local level, to be the focal point, in collaboration with the Department of Finance and Price Control, the Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, and other specialized departments, to assess the implementation of the objectives, tasks, and activities of the programs within their jurisdiction for the year, report on them, and develop objectives, tasks, and resources for the next year's plan including state budget capital (construction investment capital and operating expenses), credit loans, and international cooperation capital (including both loan and non-refundable aid if applicable) for each program operating within the management responsibility of the provincial or municipal People's Committee.

Among these resources, there is a portion dedicated directly to poverty reduction according to the objectives, tasks, and calculation methods specified in Appendix 02. The plan document is submitted to the provincial or municipal People's Committee for approval and then sent to the program management ministries, namely the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs for consolidation.

2. At central level.

Annually, during the plan consolidation phase (September, October), the program management ministry is responsible for assessing the implementation of the program's objectives and activities for the year, reporting on them, and based on the proposals from provinces and cities, developing the objectives, tasks, and resources for the program's annual plan including state budget capital (construction investment capital and operating expenses), foreign aid and loans, credit (if applicable), and mobilized contributions from the people according to current regulations. At the same time, it determines the resources of the program directly allocated to poverty reduction (according to the objectives, tasks, and calculation methods specified in Appendix 02). This document is sent to the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs.

- After receiving the document from the program management ministry, the Ministry of Planning and Investment collaborates with the Ministry of Finance to consolidate the objectives, tasks, and activities of the programs that must be implemented in the annual plan, estimate the state budget investment capital for each program, and incorporate it into the overall state budget plan to be submitted to the Government for consideration and to the National Assembly for approval.

- Once approved by the National Assembly, the Ministry of Planning and Investment collaborates with the Ministry of Finance to notify the program management ministry of the targets and resources of the program so that they can allocate these to relevant ministries, localities, projects, and program activities. Among these resources, there is a portion specifically allocated for poverty reduction (as detailed in Appendix 02).

After completing the allocation, the program management ministry sends the information back to the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (the portion of the program's resources allocated for poverty reduction) for consolidation and inclusion in the overall plans of the ministries, sectors, and localities. The Ministry of Planning and Investment then submits this to the Prime Minister for assignment to implement.

II. ASSIGNMENT OF PLAN INDICATORS

Each year, programs will assign three specific indicators as follows:

+ Objectives of the program.

+ Capital and capital structure.

In this context: Capital for poverty reduction.

+ Project list (if the program includes projects) and production volume (if applicable) and number of poor communes to be invested in.

1. Central-local division in assigning plans.

a. Indicators assigned by the Government.

The Government assigns comprehensive indicators to ensure that the program adheres to its established objectives. Specific indicators for individual projects are delegated by the Government to the Chairmen of Provincial and Municipal People's Committees. The details are as follows:

- The Prime Minister assigns the total capital indicator for the program to the program management ministries and the People's Committees of provinces and cities, and delegates the Minister of Planning and Investment to assign the following guiding indicators to the program management ministries and the People's Committees of provinces and cities:

+ Objectives of the program.

+ Production volume (if applicable), project list, number of poor communes to be invested in.

+ Construction investment capital, including the portion allocated for poverty reduction (based on the objectives and tasks defined for each program).

+ Operating expenses allocated according to the activities or projects of the program. Among these, the portion allocated for poverty reduction (based on the objectives and tasks defined for each program).

- The program management ministries do not assign plans to sectoral agencies at the local level and do not interfere in the local allocation of plans for projects but only guide on operational procedures, measures, and mechanisms and policies to implement the plans.

b. Indicators assigned by the Chairmen of Provincial and Municipal People's Committees.

The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee assigns detailed targets to each project under the program and directly to poor communes, and informs the Chairman of the District People's Committee of such assignments. If the program does not include projects and is implemented across all communes, then the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee assigns it to the District People's Committee for further assignment to communes.

- Targets assigned by the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee to project owners:

+ Project objectives

+ Production volume or tasks that the project must undertake.

+ Project investment capital divided into:

- Construction investment capital, including the portion directly impacting socio-economic development.

- Operating expenses allocated according to activity content, including the portion for socio-economic development.

+ For poor communes, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee assigns: The reduction rate of poor households in the commune and construction support capital for infrastructure projects.

+ For programs implemented across all communes, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee assigns the District People's Committee with the objectives and funding for each program so that the District People's Committee can assign them to communes based on two criteria: objectives and funding for each program.

c. Re-register the plan of the Provincial People's Committee with the program management agency, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and the Ministry of Finance. (Report the plan after allocation and assignment of targets to grassroots units).

After the Provincial People's Committee completes the plan assignment, compile and report the results of the budget allocation at the local level to the program management agency, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and the Ministry of Finance as a basis for monitoring, managing, and settling accounts for the program.

d. Adjust the plan targets.

Plan target adjustments are carried out according to the principle that the level which assigns the plan has the authority to adjust it.

III. INTEGRATING PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS FOR SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GOALS:

1. Integrating resources from programs and projects participating in socio-economic development at the central level:

Resource integration from programs and projects participating in socio-economic development is conducted during the capital allocation and target assignment stages.

The goal of integration at the central level is to outline the integration approach and resources for implementation, without delving into specific project integration, and is carried out as follows:

- After the National Assembly approves the investment capital from the State Budget for each program, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, in coordination with the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, based on the socio-economic development-related objectives and tasks of each program (as detailed in Appendices 01 and 02), estimates the capital for each program dedicated to socio-economic development within the total approved capital by the National Assembly. Simultaneously, officially inform the program management agency of the total program capital managed by the ministry, including the portion designated for socio-economic development according to the objectives, tasks, and calculation methods specified in Appendix 02.

- Upon receiving the official notification from the Ministry of Planning and Investment regarding the total program capital and the portion allocated for socio-economic development, the program management agency proceeds to allocate it to ministries, localities, and sends it to the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance for consolidation into the overall plan of the ministries and localities to be submitted to the Prime Minister for assignment (according to the detailed targets outlined in Section II) for implementation by relevant ministries, sectors, and localities.

2. Organizing the integration of programs and projects operating within provinces and cities.

- Objectives of integrating programs within provinces and cities:

+ Concentrating resources for socio-economic development goals,

+ Avoiding overlapping activities, reducing points of contact for the public,

+ Combining with locally mobilized resources to enhance the strength and effectiveness of programs.

- Program and project integration within provinces and cities is carried out immediately upon allocation and target assignment, and only at the provincial and city levels. Districts and counties are only responsible for implementing integrated projects at the provincial level, not further integration.

- Method of implementation:

- After receiving the plan targets assigned by the Prime Minister and delegated to the Minister of Planning and Investment, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee assigns the Department of Planning and Investment, the standing body of the National Target Programs Steering Committee at the locality level, to lead and coordinate with the Department of Finance and Price Control, the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, and specialized departments to study and implement the integration of programs and projects within the locality before assigning the plan. The Department of Planning and Investment coordinates with the Department of Finance and Price Control to inform specialized departments about the overall objectives, tasks, and capital sources of programs within the locality, including the capital for programs dedicated to socio-economic development, so that these departments can participate in proposing integration schemes according to the following contents:

a. Integrating construction-oriented projects within the locality

These are small-scale infrastructure and production projects of programs such as 773, settlement, health, education, population and family planning, clean water and rural sanitation, village cluster centers, and economic and social development programs in poor communes, rural power grid development, and rural transportation systems. If these projects are implemented separately by individual programs, they may lead to dispersion or overlap within the locality, thus requiring integration prior to plan assignment for implementation.

- Integration of construction-oriented projects is carried out through the following two models:

+ Model of integrating projects meeting common usage targets for multiple programs within the locality.

Step I: Select the main project for integration with other projects.

The Department of Planning and Investment, in collaboration with specialized departments, selects several "main projects" at specific locations to integrate other projects into these "main projects." For example, if many programs have funds for building health stations, select one health station construction project from a particular program as the "main project" to integrate with other similar projects. The "main project" for integration must have a specific location and owner, and a comprehensive budget estimate.

Step II: Determine the capital of projects participating in integration with the main project. Based on having selected the "main project" and specific location, the Department of Planning and Investment will coordinate with specialized departments to determine the level of capital for other projects participating in integration into the "main project" and the total capital of the project after integration for approval by the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee and assignment to the main project proponent to implement.

Step III: Implementation. After receiving the plan index assigned by the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, the main project proponent is responsible for implementing the integrated capital index and must account for the capital of projects that have participated in integration for the implementation of project components.

Specialized departments with capital participating in integration into the "main project" are responsible for monitoring the implementation of the integrated project and coordinating with the main project proponent in the settlement and finalization of the project according to current regulations.

+ Model of integrating projects to form community centers.

Method of proceeding:

Step I: Identify community centers requiring investment for project integration. The Department of Planning and Investment will coordinate with specialized departments to select one or several community centers urgently needing investment based on the current status of existing infrastructure facilities to determine the need for construction investment.

Step II: Propose projects for integration to build community centers. Based on the identified community centers requiring investment, the Department of Planning and Investment will propose specific projects to be constructed at the selected community centers to be approved by the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee and assigned to project proponents for implementation.

Step III: Implementation. Specialized departments are responsible for directing project proponents to implement according to the integrated plan index assigned by the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee for construction at community centers.

- Management of integrated projects to form community centers is carried out as follows:

+ The district is the investor.

+ Establish a Project Management Board chaired by a Deputy Chairman of the District People's Committee, with members including representatives from departments with participating projects and the Chairmen of villages within the cluster.

- Regarding management: After integration, each sector manages its own projects, including both the organization of construction and settlement and finalization. Projects without a sector managing them, or those primarily funded by local budgets (province, district), are managed by the district.

b. Model of integrating promotional, educational, mobilization activities, and the use of dedicated staff and volunteers from programs in the locality.

These are activities that most programs have, and if each program proceeds separately, it would lead to repeated activities causing waste in the use of staff and wasting time in meetings. On the other hand, due to different subsidies for dedicated staff and volunteers of various programs, misunderstandings may arise among staff, and the potential of dedicated staff and volunteers of the programs may not be fully utilized. To address this situation, integration is necessary, and many localities have successfully implemented such integration.

- Method of implementation:

Step I: First, the province must classify and understand how many promotional, educational, and mobilization activities of programs are being implemented in the locality and how many dedicated staff and volunteers there are, along with specific subsidy rates for each type of staff in different programs.

For information dissemination, promotional, and educational activities aimed at the entire population and through mass media, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee assigns the provincial radio and television station and major newspapers to carry out these tasks. The content of promotion for each program and specific funding for implementation are proposed by specialized departments, approved by the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, and assigned for implementation.

Step II: Integrate the activities of dedicated staff and volunteers. For the activities of dedicated staff and volunteers of each program at village and hamlet levels, depending on the actual situation in the locality, the Department of Planning and Investment will coordinate with specialized departments to select staff from one or two programs to undertake all promotional, educational, and mobilization tasks of other programs in the commune (excluding agricultural extension, forestry extension, and fisheries extension which are handled by the agriculture and fisheries sectors). Selected staff must have a general understanding of the promotional tasks of other programs and be capable of handling the work assigned by other programs. For example, health sector staff can handle the promotional, educational, and mobilization tasks of the population and family planning program, malnutrition prevention program, and HIV/AIDS prevention program.

Subsidies for these staff are decided by the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee and sourced from the operational budget for information dissemination, promotion, and education of participating programs. However, not all parts of the program budgets are used to pay these staff, but only the appropriate amount corresponding to the time and effort spent by volunteers and dedicated staff on their tasks. The savings will be allocated to other program activities that need to be expanded but lack funding.

IV. PLAN FOR MONITORING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS PARTICIPATING IN URBAN DEVELOPMENT

1. Purpose of inspection

- To identify strengths and weaknesses, promptly correct deviations during the implementation of programs, especially the integration of programs for urban development goals.

- To ensure that programs are implemented according to set objectives and tasks.

- To ensure that program funds are used for the intended beneficiaries and purposes.

- To ensure transparency and democracy in program implementation.

- To identify good models of practices.

2. Inspection agencies and levels

- At the central level: The program management ministry shall take the lead in coordinating with relevant ministries: the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Finance, and other legal agencies to organize inspections of localities.

- At the local level: The specialized department shall take the lead in coordinating with relevant departments to conduct inspections of projects, districts, and communes.

3. Time and subjects of inspection:

a. Inspection time:

- Annually, the program management ministry will organize inspections of localities.

- Quarterly and every six months, the specialized department will organize inspections of districts and communes, and report the results of the inspections to the program management ministry.

b. Subjects of inspection:

- Projects under the program include all those of central ministries and sectors within the locality, including projects directly managed by the central government (if any).

- Poor communes and poor households.

4. Content of Inspection

- Implementation of the program's objectives within the locality, paying attention to objectives related to poverty reduction within the locality.

- Use of central funds and other sources of funding for the program within the locality. Attention should be paid to whether the proportion of program funds allocated directly for poverty reduction has reached the people and at what level.

- Implementation of mechanisms and policies prescribed for the program that must be implemented.

- Coordination among sectors and levels and mobilization of public participation in implementing the program.

- Evaluation of the program's implementation outcomes and lessons learned.

V. ASSIGNMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES OF MINISTRIES, SECTORS AND LOCALITIES IN PLANNING THE PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS PARTICIPATING IN POVERTY REDUCTION

1. Assignment of responsibilities for organizing implementation at the central level:

a. The Ministry of Planning and Investment: Shall have the responsibility:

- To serve as the focal point assisting the Government in planning and integrating programs and projects participating in poverty reduction and managing the implementation plan.

- To take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance in allocating state budget investment capital for each program and integrating programs and projects at the central level; to participate with the Ministry of Finance in forecasting regular expenditures from the state budget for each program, including the portion dedicated to poverty reduction objectives.

- After the National Assembly approves the allocation of state budget capital for each program, the Ministry of Planning and Investment shall coordinate with the Ministry of Finance to notify the program management ministries to allocate to the respective ministries and localities.

- To participate with the Program Management Ministry in formulating mechanisms and policies to implement the programs.

- To participate with the Program Management Ministry and other relevant ministries in inspecting the implementation of the programs.

- To report on the implementation of the programs quarterly and annually to the Prime Minister.

b. The Ministry of Finance: Shall have the responsibility:

- To take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment in balancing regular expenditures from the state budget for each program; to participate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment in balancing construction investment capital from the state budget for each program.

- To disburse funds for the programs according to current regulations and the progress of each program.

- To guide the program management ministries and provincial People's Committees on financial management mechanisms and settlement procedures for the programs.

- To coordinate with the Program Management Ministry, the Ministry of Planning and Investment in inspecting the implementation of the programs at ministries, sectors, and localities.

- To take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Program Management Ministry to address financial bottlenecks during the implementation of activities and projects under the program.

c. The Program Management Ministry: Shall have the responsibility:

- To perform planning tasks for the program managed by the ministry according to the contents specified in Sections I, II, III, and IV.

- To determine in the annual plan the resources of the program participating in poverty reduction according to the objectives and tasks prescribed for each program in Appendices 01 and 02.

- To monitor the implementation of the program's objectives across the country, each province, city, and down to each project.

- To grasp the entire list of projects and the implementation status of each project in specific areas.

- To manage the program's resources uniformly to ensure proper use of funds according to the program's objectives and tasks, but not to hold funds to directly allocate funding to specific projects and activities at the local and central levels (except for projects directly implemented by the ministry).

- To organize unified management of the program's activities and guide provinces and cities on measures to effectively implement the program's objectives without assigning plans to vertical sectoral agencies at the local level.

- To study and propose mechanisms and policies for the program and issue guidelines for localities to implement.

- To organize periodic inspections every six months, nine months, and annually regarding the implementation of the programs by provinces and cities according to the specified content (in Section IV).

- To promptly identify and propose solutions to the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance for issues hindering the program's implementation by ministries and localities, and to jointly recommend solutions to the Prime Minister for issues arising beyond their authority.

- To report on the program's implementation quarterly, every six months, nine months, and annually according to the unified content and format specified in Appendix 03 to the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs for consolidation and reporting to the Prime Minister.

- Specifically, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, as the permanent management agency for the national target program on poverty reduction, in addition to the general responsibilities mentioned above (point 1, Section V), also has the responsibility to coordinate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance to aggregate resources from other programs and projects participating in poverty reduction to combine with the resources invested specifically by the national target program on poverty reduction into a unified resource for annual poverty reduction work.

2. Assignment of responsibilities for implementation at the local level:

a. Chairmen of Provincial People's Committees: Shall have the responsibility:

- Through the Department of Planning and Investment, which serves as the standing office of the Steering Committee for national programs and targets on the local level, organize the development of plans for activities under these programs on the local level according to the contents already specified (in Point 1, Section I).

- Organize the allocation of plans:

+ After receiving the plan indicators from the Government, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee has the responsibility to report to the Provincial People's Council to be aware of and participate in supervising the distribution and management of implementation.

+ Assign the Department of Planning and Investment to coordinate with the Department of Finance and Prices and other specialized departments to develop allocation schemes for project owners in poor communes and District People's Committees (if it is a program without projects) according to the contents already specified (in Section II) to submit to the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee for consideration and decision-making and implementation.

- Organize the integration of programs and activities on the local level towards poverty reduction goals through the Department of Planning and Investment and specialized departments according to the contents already specified (in Point 2, Section III) before allocating plans.

- Manage the organization and implementation of programs and activities on the local level through specialized departments and the Chairmen of District People's Committees.

- In addition to central resources that have been allocated, organize the mobilization of local resources according to current regulations for poverty reduction and ensure clear settlement and public announcement so that all citizens are informed.

- Organize inspections of program implementation down to each project according to the contents already specified (in Section IV).

- Report the situation of plan implementation quarterly and annually for programs under the management of the Provincial People's Committee to the Program Management Ministry, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs according to the unified content and form specified (in Appendix 03).

b. Responsibilities of the Department of Planning and Investment:

- Serve as the standing office of the Steering Committee for national programs and targets on the local level, act as the focal point assisting the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee in:

+ Developing plans for programs participating in poverty reduction activities on the local level.

+ Coordinating with specialized departments to integrate programs on the local level before allocating plan indicators to implementing units.

+ Coordinating with specialized departments to propose allocation schemes for plan indicators for project owners, poor communes, and District Chairmen to submit to the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee for decision-making and implementation.

+ Assisting the People's Committee in managing and summarizing the overall situation of program implementation and target participation in poverty reduction activities on the local level.

c. The Department of Finance and Prices: Has the responsibility:

- Coordinate with the Department of Planning and Investment and specialized departments in allocating funds for programs to project owners, poor communes, and districts (if there are no specific projects) and in integrating programs on the local level.

- Direct the disbursement of funds for programs according to the content and progress of program implementation.

- Guide project owners and sectors in financial operations and new financial policies related to the implementation of each program on the local level.

- Settle and finalize financial accounts for programs on the local level and send them to the Program Management Ministry and the Ministry of Finance.

- Organize inspections of financial regulations' implementation for programs on the local level.

d. Specialized Departments: Have the responsibility:

- Lead and coordinate with the Department of Planning and Investment in developing plans for programs managed by the department.

- Participate with the Department of Planning and Investment in allocating indicators and integrating programs on the local level.

- Coordinate with the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (the vertical sectoral management agency for national poverty reduction programs on the local level) during the process of integrating programs and projects participating in poverty reduction activities on the local level.

- Organize the implementation of programs according to projects and program activities.

- Participate with the Department of Finance and Prices in settling the budget for projects within programs managed by the department.

- Organize inspections of projects within programs.

đ. Chairmen of District People's Committees: Have the responsibility:

- Propose to the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee about the plan indicators for programs operating on the district and commune levels and the plan indicators for poor communes within the district.

- After receiving the plan indicators assigned by the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee (including the plan indicators assigned to the district and announcements of plan indicators directly assigned by the Provincial People's Committee to projects and poor communes within the district), the Chairman of the District People's Committee reports to the District People's Council to be aware and participate in supervising the distribution and implementation.

- Allocate plan indicators to communes (for programs implemented across all communes and without specific projects).

- Organize and direct the implementation of programs on the local level down to each specific project and poor commune.

- Mobilize resources within the district according to current regulations for poverty reduction implementation beyond central and provincial allocations.

- Report the situation of program implementation on the local level quarterly and annually to specialized departments, the Department of Planning and Investment, and the Department of Finance and Prices.

e. Chairmen of Commune People's Committees: Have the responsibility:

- When receiving plan indicators from the district, the Chairman of the Commune People's Committee reports to the Commune People's Council about the indicators, tasks, and resources of programs operating on the commune level.

- The Chairman of the Commune People's Committee coordinates with the Vietnam Fatherland Front at the commune level to convene meetings with representatives of villages to inform the entire population about the goals, tasks, and funding of programs being implemented on the commune level and to jointly discuss measures for implementation.

- The construction of social infrastructure projects such as schools, health stations, clean water facilities, power substations, transportation roads, markets, or production service projects such as small irrigation works, etc., shall be discussed and unanimously decided upon by the commune to select the project. In addition to the capital provided by the central government and the province/municipality, the People's Committee of the commune shall democratically consult with the people within the commune to unify measures for mobilizing local resources for these projects, including contributions in labor days, capital, and other materials. Upon completion of the project, the settlement and final accounting must be reported clearly according to current regulations and publicly announced so that all commune residents are informed.

VI. IMPLEMENTATION PROVISIONS

This Circular takes effect fifteen days from the date of signature.

The Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of governmental agencies, Chairpersons of People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities shall be responsible for implementing this Circular.

During implementation, if difficulties arise, they are requested to report back to the Joint Ministry for study and resolution.