Delegates from Nghe An province requested the National Assembly to supervise the implementation of legal regulations on the construction of information systems and databases.

Panorama of the working session on the morning of May 27 at Dien Hong Hall, National Assembly House. Photo: Quang Khanh

Discussing the planned supervision topics of the National Assembly in 2024, Standing Member of the National Assembly's Law Committee Hoang Minh Hieu (Nghe An Delegation) expressed his agreement with the planned two supervision topics on policies and laws on public service units; the implementation of resolutions on socio-economic recovery policies and a number of important national construction projects.

However, regarding the topic of monitoring the real estate market, social housing and the topic of monitoring traffic order and safety, the delegate of Nghe An Delegation said that careful consideration is needed to ensure close coordination between monitoring activities and legislative activities.

Delegate Hoang Minh Hieu analyzed: In the National Assembly's Law and Ordinance Development Program, it is expected that the Housing Law, the Real Estate Business Law and the Road Traffic Safety Order Law will be passed by the National Assembly in 2024. Therefore, instead of organizing specialized supervision activities, it is possible to assign the National Assembly Committees in the process of examining these draft laws to conduct a thorough survey of practice to directly amend the provisions in the corresponding laws.

Standing member of the National Assembly's Law Committee Hoang Minh Hieu, Nghe An delegation, spoke at the discussion. Photo: Quang Khanh

In addition to the two selected topics, Mr. Hoang Minh Hieu also proposed to research and add a topic on monitoring the implementation of legal regulations related to the construction of information systems and databases in laws and resolutions of the National Assembly since the promulgation of the 2013 Constitution.

The above proposal, according to the delegate, comes from 3 reasons. First of all, to serve the process of information technology and national digital transformation, since the promulgation of the Constitution in 2013, many laws have had regulations on the construction of information systems and databases.

“In this session alone, we counted that over 85% of the total number of draft laws that were commented on or passed had provisions on this content. For example, we would like to give examples such as: National database on cooperatives; national information database on consumer rights protection; national housing database and information; national land database; national real estate market information system; national water resources information system and database... We agree with these provisions, because these are important bases to create a foundation for national digital transformation,” the delegate from Nghe An cited.

However, according to delegates, implementing these regulations requires large resources, high technology and expertise. If not properly organized, implemented and monitored, it can cause waste of resources.

National Assembly deputies at the discussion session on the morning of May 27 at Dien Hong Hall, National Assembly House. Photo: Quang Khanh

The second reason why it is necessary to monitor this content is because through monitoring the implementation of information systems and databases in recent times, there are still certain shortcomings.

Delegate Hoang Minh Hieu cited: First of all, there is a situation of overlap between databases. For example, currently, according to the provisions of the Law on Dissemination and Education of Law, there is a National Database of Laws that is being managed and operated relatively well by the Ministry of Justice; but besides that, there is also a Database of Official Gazettes that also includes legal documents. This can both lead to waste and cause confusion for people when looking up.

In addition, some information systems and databases have been built but their updating and efficiency are not high. For example, in 2020, the National Open Data Portal was launched, which is an important database, but so far the data here is mainly from 2020.

Or there are information systems and databases that have been invested in and built relatively well, but the efficiency of use by people is not high.

Recently, the Public Administration Performance Index Report (PAPI 2022 report) said that the percentage of users using online public services has decreased from 16% in 2021 to 14% in 2022.

Within the framework of this report, only 4.85% of the respondents said they used the Online Public Service Portal. That is, out of 100 people, only about 5 people know about the Online Public Service Portal. "Thus, it is clear that the efficiency of serving the people is not as expected," said delegate Hoang Minh Hieu.

In particular, the third reason, according to the delegate of Nghe An Delegation, is that now is the right time for the National Assembly to supervise and evaluate the implementation of legal regulations on the construction, management and operation of information systems and databases. Because up to now, the process of Information Technology and digital transformation in Vietnam has been carried out for a long time, but the National Assembly has not yet carried out the supreme thematic supervision on this content.

Meanwhile, the Party Resolution in this term has also set out very specific goals for developing the digital economy, digital government, and digital society with great expectations. Therefore, at this time, conducting this monitoring topic will be an important basis for perfecting the institution, contributing to promoting the current national digital transformation.

National Assembly Delegates of Nghe An Delegation exchanged on the sidelines of the working session on the morning of May 27 with National Assembly Delegates from localities. Photo: Quang Khanh