Joint Circular No. 131/2011/TTLT-BTC-BKHĐT-BTTTT guiding the management and use of state budget funds for the implementation of the National Target Program to bring information to grassroots levels in mountainous areas, remote regions, border areas, and islands in 2011.

JOINT CIRCULAR

Guidelines for managing and using state budget funds to implement the National Target Program bringing information to mountainous areas, remote regions, border areas, and islands in 2011

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Pursuant to Decree No. 60/2003/NĐ-CP dated June 6, 2003 of the Government detailing and guiding the implementation of the State Budget Law;

Pursuant to Decree No. 118/2008/NĐ-CP dated November 27, 2008, of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Finance;

Pursuant to Decree No. 116/2008/ND-CP dated November 14, 2008 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Planning and Investment;

BASED ON THE GOVERNMENT DECREE NO. 187/2007/NĐ-CP OF DECEMBER 25, 2007 ON THE FUNCTIONS, TASKS, POWERS, AND ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS;

Pursuant to Decision No. 135/2009/QĐ-TTg dated November 4, 2009 of the Government Chairman on promulgating the Regulations on management and operation of national target programs;

Implementing Decision No. 2331/QĐ-TTg dated December 20, 2010 of the Prime Minister promulgating the list of National Target Programs in 2011;

Jointly issued by the Ministry of Finance - Ministry of Planning and Investment - Ministry of Information and Communications, these guidelines regulate the management and use of state budget funds to implement the National Target Program on bringing information to grassroots levels in mountainous areas, remote regions, border areas, and islands (hereinafter referred to as the National Target Program on Bringing Information to Grassroots Levels) in 2011 as follows:

Article 1. General Provisions

1. These guidelines regulate the management and use of state budget funds to implement the National Target Program on Bringing Information to Grassroots Levels in 2011 according to Decision No. 2331/QĐ-TTg dated December 20, 2010 of the Prime Minister promulgating the list of National Target Programs in 2011, including three projects:

a) Project 1: Strengthening the capacity of grassroots-level information and communication cadres.

b) Project 2: Enhancing material infrastructure for grassroots-level information and communication systems.

c) Project 3: Enhancing information and communication content for mountainous areas, remote regions, border areas, and islands.

2. The funding for the National Target Program on Bringing Information to Grassroots Levels in 2011 from state budget sources shall be implemented according to Decision No. 196/QĐ-TTg dated January 30, 2011 of the Prime Minister regarding the allocation of budgets for implementing National Target Programs in 2011 and Decision No. 518/QĐ-TTg dated April 8, 2011 of the Prime Minister amending and supplementing Decision No. 196/QĐ-TTg dated January 30, 2011 of the Prime Minister.

3. The sources of funding for the Program include: state budget funds (central budget funds; local budget funds; borrowed funds and aid funds); contributions from various economic sectors; and other lawful sources. Among them:

a) Central budget funds for implementing tasks:

- Expenditure for implementing Project 1.

||| - Expenditure for implementing Project 2 (excluding the content funded by the local budget as specified in point b of this clause).

||| - Expenditure for implementing Project 3.

- Program management expenses.

||| - Project management costs for the Program.

||| b) Local budget funds for implementing:

- Implementation of Project 2 including: construction, upgrading of station shells and architectural structures of stations, shells, and power supply (in cases where existing facilities cannot be utilized for installation of project equipment);

||| - Supplementing the implementation of other Program contents outside of the portion of Program implementation funded by the central budget.

c) Legal revenue of agencies and units permitted to retain and use.

d) Voluntary contributions from organizations and individuals: The Program may accept contributions in cash or in kind. When accepting such contributions, the implementing agency must record, aggregate, and report the results according to regulations.

đ) Other lawful sources of funding implemented in accordance with relevant regulatory legal documents.

Article 2. Content of the Program in 2011

1. Project 1 "Strengthening the capacity of grassroots-level information and communication cadres". The content of the project implementation in 2011 includes:

- Developing a framework program, training materials, and skills enhancement programs for professional and vocational training, and deploying them for trainers.

- Surveying and determining the training needs for grassroots-level information and communication cadres in 2011 and the period 2011-2015.

- Supporting the organization of short-term professional and vocational training courses for grassroots-level information and communication cadres according to the framework program and training materials issued by the Ministry of Information and Communications. Priority should be given to training cadres who have the potential to work long-term in the field of grassroots-level information and communication to ensure the sustainable effectiveness of the Program.

2. Project 2 "Enhancing material infrastructure for grassroots-level information and communication systems":

- Constructing new and upgrading relay stations for radio and television broadcasting at district and commune levels in mountainous areas, remote regions, border areas, and islands. Priority should be given to upgrading degraded relay stations.

For the implementation of new station construction investments, localities need to consider necessary conditions to ensure progress such as constructing station buildings, power supply, and allocating management, operation, usage, and maintenance costs for equipment based on local government budgets to ensure the tasks stipulated in Clause 3, Article 1 of this Circular.

- Investing in constructing new and upgrading communal radio stations; priority should be given to locations where local facilities can be utilized (at commune People's Committee offices or suitable locations).

- Supporting equipment to establish village and hamlet radio stations in poor districts according to Government regulations.

- Supporting operational equipment for grassroots-level information and communication activities.

- Supporting the provision of signal receiving equipment, listening and viewing devices, and necessary auxiliary equipment for community living areas (at border guard posts, cultural houses, or concentrated community living centers). Priority should be given to areas with difficult socio-economic conditions, low household coverage rates of listening and viewing devices, and newly covered television areas.

3. Project 3 "Enhancing information and communication content for mountainous areas, remote regions, border areas, and islands":

- Supporting the production, editing, and broadcasting of thematic television programs serving the target groups of the project (including ethnic languages).

- Supporting the creation, editing, printing, and distribution of specialized books and communication publications serving ethnic minority communities in mountainous areas and remote regions (excluding publications provided free of charge by the state to strengthen information and propaganda efforts for political, economic, cultural, and social development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas and particularly difficult regions as stipulated in Decision No. 975/QĐ-TTg dated July 20, 2006 of the Prime Minister; publications subsidized and ordered; and publications supported for creative purposes as stipulated in Decision No. 369/QĐ-TTg dated March 14, 2011 of the Prime Minister).

- Building an electronic information database serving rural areas.

4. Management, Supervision, and Evaluation of the Program.

Article 3. Content and amount of expenditure

1. Contents and Expenditure Levels for Project 1:

a) For activities related to investigating and surveying to determine training needs: apply the expenditure level as prescribed in Circular No. 58/2011/TT-BTC dated May 11, 2011, issued by the Ministry of Finance on guiding the management, use, and settlement of funds for conducting surveys from state budget sources.

b) For developing framework programs, compiling curricula, textbooks, and training materials, and paying remuneration to lecturers: implement according to the provisions set forth in Circular No. 123/2009/TT-BTC dated June 17, 2009, issued by the Ministry of Finance regarding the content and levels of expenditure for developing framework programs and compiling curricula and textbooks for subjects in undergraduate, college, and vocational high school education.

c) For organizing seminars, hiring experts for review and comments on framework programs, training materials, and lectures, according to the standards specified in Circular No. 123/2009/TT-BTC dated June 17, 2009, issued by the Ministry of Finance regarding the content and levels of expenditure for developing framework programs and compiling curricula and textbooks for subjects in undergraduate, college, and vocational high school education.

d) For translating materials: apply according to Circular No. 219/2009/TT-BTC dated November 19, 2009, issued by the Ministry of Finance prescribing certain expenditure standards applicable to projects and programs using official development assistance (ODA) funds.

e) Supporting food, accommodation, and travel expenses for trainees who are training program participants, including village, ward, and town civil servants; non-professional staff at the commune level when attending skill enhancement courses (as stipulated in Decree No. 92/2009/NĐ-CP dated October 22, 2009, issued by the Government concerning job titles, staffing levels, and some policies for village, ward, and town civil servants and non-professional staff at the commune level), and other participants. Specific expenditure levels:

- Room rental support: Pay according to actual costs but not exceeding the allocated room rental expenditure level prescribed in Point a, Clause 4, Article 2 of Circular No. 97/2010/TT-BTC dated July 6, 2010, issued by the Ministry of Finance on travel expense regulations and expenditure regulations for organizing conferences for state agencies and public service units.

- Accommodation allowance: The expenditure level is implemented according to Point a, Clause 3, Article 2 of Circular No. 97/2010/TT-BTC dated July 6, 2010, issued by the Ministry of Finance on travel expense regulations and expenditure regulations for organizing conferences for state agencies and public service units.

- Food support for trainees: The expenditure level is implemented according to Point 1.6, Clause 1, Article 3 of Circular No. 139/2010/TT-BTC dated September 21, 2010, issued by the Ministry of Finance on the preparation, management, and use of state budget funds for cadre and civil servant training and enhancement.

- Travel support: Based on the specific conditions of each locality, the Departments of Information and Communications shall propose specific allocation levels for different regions, submit to the Department of Finance for agreement to implement.

g) Training costs for lecturers and other expenses as prescribed in Circular No. 139/2010/TT-BTC dated September 21, 2010, issued by the Ministry of Finance on the preparation, management, and use of state budget funds for cadre and civil servant training and enhancement.

h) Printing costs for training materials and lectures: Implement according to the laws on purchasing goods and services funded by the state budget.

2. Content and expenditure levels for Project 2:

- Construction and installation costs;

- Equipment costs;

- Other basic construction costs.

Detailed contents and expenditure levels for each project (including consulting and project management costs) according to the approved budget and current regulations on state investment in construction and asset procurement.

3. Content and expenditure levels for Project 3:

a) For the content of information demand surveys at the grassroots level, implement according to Circular No. 58/2011/TT-BTC dated May 11, 2011, issued by the Ministry of Finance on guiding the management, use, and settlement of funds for conducting surveys from state budget sources.

b) For organizing dissemination and training meetings to improve quality, enhance content, and strengthen communication about mountainous areas, remote areas, border regions, and islands: The content and expenditure levels are implemented according to Circular No. 97/2010/TT-BTC dated July 6, 2010, issued by the Ministry of Finance on travel expense regulations and expenditure regulations for organizing conferences for state agencies and public service units, and related regulations.

c) Support for producing radio and television programs and communication publications; publishing materials and providing electronic information for rural areas is carried out as follows:

- The production of new radio and television programs is implemented according to Decision No. 382/QĐ-BTTTT dated March 21, 2011, issued by the Ministry of Information and Communications on setting new program production support prices using state budget funds for the period 2010-2012 and through ordering methods. No support will be provided for VAT; depreciation of large equipment shared for program production (color vehicles, studio systems, common management equipment; headquarters, etc.); public utility service fees purchased externally (electricity, water, telephone, fax, postal fees, etc.); other costs: transmission costs for live broadcasts; stage decoration and lighting equipment, and profit.

- Production of publication materials: The Ministry of Information and Communications is responsible for coordinating with relevant ministries, agencies, and publishers to develop production and distribution cost plans for publications; the Ministry of Finance will coordinate with the Ministry of Information and Communications to determine production and distribution costs to set payment prices for ordered publications under the 2011 Program.

- For the provision of communication publications and electronic information services for rural areas: Implementation shall be carried out according to current legal regulations.

d) Support for rebroadcasting television programs at various levels of broadcasting stations. The support expenditure levels are as follows:

+ Rebroadcasting programs with a duration not exceeding 15 minutes is 300,000 VND per program;

+ Rebroadcasting programs with a duration over 15 minutes up to 30 minutes is 575,000 VND per program;

+ Rebroadcasting programs with a duration over 30 minutes up to 45 minutes is 850,000 VND per program.

The list of programs provided by the central authority, broadcasting hours, and programs broadcasted according to the guidelines of the Ministry of Information and Communications.

The support expenditure levels specified above are the maximum expenditure levels. Based on actual conditions and budget capacity, the Chairman of the People's Committee of provinces and centrally governed cities shall specify specific support levels that are appropriate and ensure they do not exceed the expenditure levels prescribed in this Circular.

d) Expenditure for establishing clusters of external information dissemination propaganda at border gates;

e) Expenditure for issuing and transporting communication publications to beneficiary units. The expenditure level is based on the actual number of publications issued and the service charges of the service providers;

g) Expenditure for supporting propaganda, promotion, management, and introduction of publications and communication publications. The expenditure level is based on the standard set by the Ministry of Information and Communications or the approved budget and implemented through ordering;

In cases where the cost items under Project 3 have not been regulated by competent state agencies with authority, the unit directly implementing the project shall base on the objectives of the Program agreed upon by the State Management Authority on Information and Communications (at the central level, it is the Ministry of Information and Communications; at the local level, it is the Department of Information and Communications), workload, and market prices to prepare budgets and submit them for approval by the competent authority according to current laws;

4. Expenditures for management, supervision, and evaluation of the Program

For Program Management Authorities (Program Management Board and Component Project Management Board of the Program), the expenditure content includes:

a) Expenditure for developing and reviewing the Program, reviewing component projects within the Program;

b) Expenditure for developing monitoring frameworks and monitoring indicators, evaluating the implementation of the Program; researching and recommending amendments and supplements to mechanisms and policies for implementing the Program;

c) Expenditure for hiring consultants; periodic annual, mid-term, and final evaluations of the Program; inspecting, supervising, and evaluating the implementation of the Program; compiling comprehensive reports, analyzing, and evaluating the implementation of the Program at various levels; summarizing and reviewing the implementation of the Program; holding central and local meetings on the Program; applying information technology to manage the Program;

d) Expenditure for auditing the use of Program funds (which may be state audit or independent audit);

đ) Other expenditures for managing the Program;

The expenditure level for managing the Program and managing Program projects shall comply with current national regulations.

Article 4. Management and settlement of the Program's budget expenses

1. Based on the state budget plan and budget estimate assigned by the competent authority, ministries, central agencies, and localities allocate and assign the budget estimate to subordinate units to implement the Program according to Code 0430 - Projects (Project 1 - Code 0431; Project 2 - Code 0432; Project 3 - Code 0433):

This code number will be used in the execution of the budget estimate, accounting, and settlement of the state budget.

2. The Program project management agencies are responsible for drafting, reviewing, and approving the detailed contents of each project and tasks within the list of projects assigned under the Program.

3. By the end of 2011, ministries, central agencies, and localities report on the implementation of the Program's specialized targets and indicators, disbursement progress, difficulties encountered during implementation, and policy recommendations to the Ministry of Information and Communications for consolidation and reporting to the Prime Minister, with copies sent to the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Planning and Investment;

4. Implement independent audit procedures for the use of Program funds;

State-owned enterprises that have been assigned by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to conduct offshore wind power project surveys before the effective date of this Circular shall continue to implement according to the assigned documents; any new matters arising after the effective date of this Circular shall be implemented in accordance with the provisions of this Circular.

Ministries, central agencies, localities, and organizations implementing Program project contents shall organize and implement this Program based on the Management and Implementation Regulations of National Target Programs issued together with Decision No. 135/QĐ-TTg dated November 4, 2009 of the Prime Minister. Specifically as follows:

1. The Ministry of Information and Communications:

a) Establish the National Target Program Management Board as stipulated in Clause 2, Article 28 of the Management and Implementation Regulations of National Target Programs issued together with Decision No. 135/2009/QĐ-TTg of the Prime Minister;

b) Establish the Project Management Board as stipulated in Clause 2, Article 29 of the Management and Implementation Regulations of National Target Programs issued together with Decision No. 135/2009/QĐ-TTg of the Prime Minister to manage the implementation of Program projects allocated funding;

c) Guide ministries, central agencies, and selected provinces to implement the Program activities in accordance with the Program's objectives and tasks for 2011;

d) Guide technical standards for information and communication infrastructure projects under the Program's investment content;

đ) Organize effective implementation of Program tasks and projects; coordinate integration with other programs and projects to achieve effectiveness without waste; settle accounts for these funds according to regulations;

e) Take the lead in developing, disseminating, and guiding the monitoring and evaluation index system for project outcomes and impact assessments according to Program objectives and tasks;

g) Conduct regular and spot checks on the implementation of Program projects to ensure the Program is carried out according to plan;

h) Periodically submitting reports to relevant units in accordance with Article 20 of Decision No. 135/2009/QĐ-TTg dated November 4, 2009 of the Prime Minister.

2. Ministries, central agencies; People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities:

a) Provincial People's Committees and centrally governed city People's Committees allocate local government budget funds along with additional targeted funds from the central government budget for the Program to operate and run the invested projects; manage communication publications and publications funded by the Program after completion and handover;

b) Ministries, central agencies, and provincial People's Committees and centrally governed city People's Committees responsible for implementing Program tasks and projects must manage and use Program funds in accordance with current national regulations and ensure effectiveness in achieving the set goals;

c) Approve tasks and projects assigned for implementation in 2011 (objectives, tasks, content, and budget estimates);

d) Direct the implementation of Program tasks and projects assigned according to the guidelines of the Ministry of Information and Communications and the approved plan. Direct subordinate units to use funds for their intended purpose, effectively, without waste, and settle accounts for funds according to current regulations;

đ) Coordinate with other programs and projects to effectively implement the Program;

e) Mobilize contributions from private economic sectors, organizations, and individuals both within and outside the country to invest in providing information about mountainous areas, remote regions, border areas, and islands according to the provisions of the law (if applicable);

The People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities shall base their decisions on the current administrative delegation management situation in their respective areas and the proposals of the Department of Information and Communications to consider and assign direct management and implementation tasks for the projects under the Program to relevant agencies;

This Circular takes effect from November 7, 2011, and applies to the implementation of projects under the Program pursuant to Decision No. 2331/QĐ-TTg dated December 20, 2010, issued by the Prime Minister along with the List of National Target Programs for 2011;

For workloads that ministries, central agencies, and localities have already implemented before this Circular takes effect, ministries, central agencies, and localities shall settle accounts based on the provisions of this Circular and valid expenditure vouchers in accordance with the State Budget Law;

During the implementation process, if there are any difficulties, they should be promptly reported to the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and the Ministry of Information and Communications for study and appropriate amendments;