On the morning of June 19, the National Assembly discussed the investment policy of the National Target Program on Cultural Development for the 2025-2035 period.

Need to review and narrow the target

Giving her opinion on the discussion, delegate Vu Thi Luu Mai (Hanoi) cited the Government's proposal that the total resources for the entire period be 256,250 billion VND and said that this is a very large number compared to the actual budget capacity.

Accordingly, it is 14 times larger than the number implemented in the 2011-2020 period and the legal basis and practical basis are inadequate.

According to Ms. Mai, we currently do not have a medium-term public investment plan, a national 5-year financial plan, or a total investment for the entire period. Therefore, the proposal of the above figure, according to Ms. Mai, is not in accordance with the Law on Public Investment.

"The submission is based on the appraisal report of the State Appraisal Council. However, in report No. 2016, the State Appraisal Council affirmed that "there is not enough basis to appraise the capital source and the ability to balance capital for the program in the period 2026-2030.

Next, in report No. 624, the State Audit also clearly stated that "the basis and ability to balance capital sources are unclear when proposing too large a resource," Ms. Mai stated.

Regarding mobilizing resources for the central budget, Ms. Mai said that according to the Government's report, it is expected to be mobilized from the increased budget revenue in 2022. However, this is not feasible, because this source has been fully allocated since 2023.

The Government report stated that the money would come from lottery revenue and from land use rights transfer fees. But this is contrary to the State Budget Law, because this is the revenue that is left 100% for the local budget.

Therefore, she believes that it is necessary to carefully review, narrow down the target and, on the basis of full legal and practical grounds, come up with an appropriate number, ensuring harmony and fairness with other urgent goals.

Regarding the feasibility and reasonableness of the goals, after reviewing, she said that it is necessary to narrow down the goals, because they are too spread out, and many goals need to consider the feasibility.

Such as stipulating that 100% of fields have a code of conduct; 100% of agencies, organizations, and businesses need to issue communication regulations and rules.

Ms. Mai pointed out that the issuance of regulations in many cases is necessary. However, the Constitution stipulates that people can do anything that is not prohibited by law. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the appropriate level to avoid abuse.

In addition, she cited the annual target that 100% of provinces and cities must have 2 sculptures and 3 art works. Thus, in 10 years, each province will have 20 sculptures and 30 art works.

"We have 63 provinces and cities, there will be 1,260 sculptures and 1,980 art works. Is it necessary to do so, while there are many other goals that need priority?

We stipulate that 100% of centrally-run cities must build at least one continental or international cultural work.

If so, the whole country will be a project and the budget will be huge. Or there must be a regulation that there must be 70 ministerial-level scientific topics and every year 80% of provinces must have at least one scientific topic on culture...", Ms. Mai added.

From there, she suggested that it is necessary to review and narrow down the target in a focused, key direction, economically, effectively and without violating the Law on Practicing Thrift and Combating Wastefulness.

"With money we can build a road, a hospital, a school, but with money we do not necessarily have cultural value.

I think that along with investing resources, it is necessary to have suitable specific solutions, with the right and effective way to achieve the desired results," Ms. Mai further emphasized.

The important thing is how to give.

Speaking about the resources, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung said he cited evidence that "how much money is not as important as how we give it, as our ancestors used to say, that's our perspective."

He said that when doing it, it must be based on data from the Ministry of Finance, compiled by the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and calculated in the roadmap.

As for revenue sources, the State budget surplus in recent years and calculation of total resources to predict whether it can be suitable and compatible with other programs in this.

"We think the problem is not too big if delegates have sympathy and sharing," Mr. Hung said.