Circular No. 14/2001/TT-BTC guides the financial mechanism for the pilot project to construct 395 new bridges to replace bamboo bridges in six provinces in the Mekong Delta.

CIRCULAR

CIRCULAR NO. 14/2001/TT-BTC OF MARCH 9, 2001 ISSUED BY THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE GUIDING THE FINANCIAL MECHANISM FOR THE PILOT PROJECT TO CONSTRUCT 395 NEW BRIDGES IN PLACE OF SWING BRIDGES IN SIX PROVINCES IN THE MEKONG DELTA

Pursuant to Decree No. 52/1999/NĐ-CP dated July 8, 1999 of the Government on the issuance of the Regulation on Investment Management and Construction; Decree No. 12/2000/NĐ-CP dated May 5, 2000 of the Government amending and supplementing certain articles of the Regulation on Investment Management and Construction attached to Decree No. 52/1999/NĐ-CP dated July 8, 1999 of the Government;

Pursuant to Circular No. 671/CP-CN dated July 18, 2000 of the Government on the youth program to eliminate swing bridges and construct new rural bridges in the Mekong Delta and Circular No. 1116/CP-CN dated December 5, 2000 of the Government on the management method and mechanism for the pilot project to construct 395 new bridges under the youth program to eliminate swing bridges in the Mekong Delta;

The Ministry of Finance guides the financial mechanism for the pilot project to construct 395 new bridges in place of swing bridges in six provinces in the Mekong Delta as follows:

This technical regulation sets out technical requirements, testing methods, sampling procedures; management requirements; responsibilities of organizations and individuals producing, trading, and importing cigarettes.

Article 1. The scope of application of this Circular is the pilot project to construct 395 new bridges under the youth program to eliminate swing bridges and construct new rural bridges in the Mekong Delta, implemented in the administrative areas of six provinces including Soc Trang, Tra Vinh, Ca Mau, Bac Lieu, Kien Giang, and Ben Tre, managed and organized by the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union.

Article 2. The pilot project to construct 395 bridges will be funded from multiple sources: central government budget funds (including revenue from the My Thuan Bridge tolls reserved for eliminating swing bridges), local government budget funds, and other mobilized funds such as foreign and domestic organization and individual donations, voluntary labor contributions from young people...

Article 3. All investment funds for the project must be uniformly managed according to the Regulation on Investment Management and Construction, invested for their intended purposes, ensuring quality and efficiency, concentrating funds to complete each project within the shortest possible time to put them into operation as soon as possible, avoiding dispersion of funds, prolonging construction time, and preventing capital loss.

II. SPECIFIC PROVISIONS

Article 1. Sources of investment funds for the project include:

- Central government budget funds allocated annually in the investment plan for construction and development by the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and the revenue from the My Thuan Bridge tolls reserved for eliminating swing bridges.

- Local government budget funds allocated annually in the local budget's investment and construction expenditure plan by the Provincial People's Committees.

- Contributions from organizations and individuals both domestically and internationally (including the value of voluntary labor days from young volunteers).

Article 2. Principles for allocating budget funds;

Article 2.1 Local government budget funds: The local counterpart funding plans (including both local government budgets and mobilized funds) allocated by the Provincial People's Committees must ensure compliance with approved budgets and be sent to the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union for consolidation and as a basis for allocating central government funds appropriately.

Article 2.2 Central government budget funds:

Article 2.2.1 Based on the total investment amount assigned by the Government, the approved total budget estimates for component projects, the local government budget funds, and the ability to mobilize other resources, the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union shall allocate investment funds according to the following principles:

- Not exceeding the total investment amount assigned by the Government.

- Ensuring compliance with approved budgets and being consistent with the local government counterpart funding plans.

- Ensuring sufficient funds for construction to complete projects as quickly as possible for immediate use.

- Ensuring funds for expenditures according to prescribed regulations for certain central-level activities as follows:

+ Organizing surveys, investigations, project appraisals, hiring consulting services for design, and technical guidance for the project.

+ Organizing monitoring, inspection, and evaluation activities for the project.

+ Organizing meetings to deploy, review, and conclude lessons learned from implementing the project at the central level.

+ Implementing other management and operational activities of the Central Project Management Board. The Central Project Management Board shall open an account at the State Treasury to receive, manage, and utilize funds.

Article 2.2.2 After allocating investment funds to each project, the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union shall send the allocation plan to the Ministry of Finance (Investment Department) for review regarding investment procedures and conditions for recording the plan according to regulations.

In cases where projects do not meet the conditions for recording the plan, the Ministry of Finance shall issue a document requesting adjustments. The Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union shall assign annual volume targets to the project sponsors for implementation.

Article 3. Provisions on payment and settlement of investment funds

The management, control, payment, and settlement of investment funds shall be carried out in accordance with current regulations and supplemented with the following points:

Article 3.1 All investment funds for the project shall be centrally managed and uniformly controlled at the State Treasury for payment to approved projects. The Project Management Boards of component projects shall open accounts at the State Treasury to pay investment funds for approved projects according to current management regulations.

Based on the annual investment budget plan from the state budget (central and local) of the project, the Ministry of Finance (for the central budget) and the Provincial Department of Finance and Price Control (for the local budget) shall transfer funds to the State Treasury for payment to the projects.

The State Treasury shall be responsible for controlling and paying funds to the project in accordance with current regulations of the Government and the Ministry of Finance on the management and payment of investment funds from the state budget.

Article 3.2 Advance payments:

- In cases where the construction units are volunteer youth teams or youth volunteers, they may receive advance payments of 50% of the annual allocated funds immediately after signing the contract. The advance payment shall be recovered gradually during each period of quantity completion payment and fully recovered within the planned year. The amount recovered in each period shall be 50% of the completed quantity payment.

In cases where the construction units are enterprises, advance payments and fund settlements shall be carried out according to current regulations.

To receive advance payments, the project sponsor shall submit to the State Treasury where the account is opened a request for advance payment, a document approving the tender results or direct award from the competent authority, and the economic contract between the project sponsor and the contractor.

Article 3.3 Settlement of investment funds:

Upon completion of the project, the Provincial Project Management Board shall be responsible for establishing and settling the total investment capital of the completed project with competent authorities in accordance with Circular No. 70/2000/TT-BTC dated July 17, 2000, issued by the Ministry of Finance, guiding the settlement of investment capital; specifically: the portion of capital allocated from the central budget - to be settled with the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, and the local budget capital (including all other sources of funds raised locally) - to be settled with the Department of Finance and Price Control.

- The Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union shall be responsible for consolidating and reporting to the competent authority.

- When transferring the bridge, all property-related documents, including the settlement documents for each source of capital (confirmed payment data from the State Treasury) must be transferred to the receiving agency for proper management and use; A handover record shall be established with the presence of the financial authority. One copy of the handover record shall be sent to the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union for monitoring and consolidation.

IV. IMPLEMENTATION PROVISIONS

Based on the guidance provided in this Circular, the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union shall coordinate with the People's Committees of Soc Trang, Tra Vinh, Ca Mau, Bac Lieu, Kien Giang, and Ben Tre provinces, as well as relevant sectors, to develop detailed plans, implement, and effectively utilize state budget capital and local resources to successfully carry out the pilot project to eliminate monkey bridges and construct new rural bridges.

This Circular takes effect from the date of issuance. Any issues encountered during implementation should be reported to the Ministry of Finance for coordination with relevant ministries and sectors to study and supplement or amend.