The public will have access to the asset declarations of officials.

According to the Project on a Database of Asset and Income Transparency for Public Officials and Civil Servants currently being developed by the Government Inspectorate, citizens will be assisted in accessing the content of asset declarations.

The plan also proposes prioritizing the verification of asset declarations of high-ranking officials, officials whose positions and authority have changed, those at risk of corruption, or those who have been the subject of complaints or denunciations.

(Illustrative image, Source: Internet)

The draft plan for building a database on asset and income transparency of civil servants and public employees, which has just been released for public comment, recommends that the Government assign the Government Inspectorate to manage the national data system on asset declaration transparency. The system will be divided into two levels of management: central data and local data.

Central data will be managed by the Government Inspectorate. Individuals required to declare assets will submit their declarations through the personnel management departments of central government agencies. After digitization, this data will be transferred to the national data center. The exploitation and use of information on asset declarations, such as public disclosure, verification, and handling of violations related to transparent asset declarations, will be carried out according to a process with specific access rights.

Data on asset and income transparency for civil servants required to declare their assets and income at the provincial and centrally-administered city levels will be digitized and synchronized with the national database periodically and regularly. The provincial inspectorate is responsible for guiding and urging subordinate units managing officials and those required to declare their assets and income to fully fulfill their obligations to declare, disclose, verify, and handle violations.

Priority is given to verifying asset declarations of high-ranking officials.

The Government Inspectorate stated that the system's database will be processed centrally, but the declarations submitted by individuals will be received and stored at the agencies managing civil servants. If the declarant submits the declaration electronically, a paper copy must be printed and signed before submission to the local authority.

Inspection units at all levels are tasked with reminding and assisting those required to declare their assets. Individuals obligated to declare their assets can do so on paper or electronically and send the information online to the provincial data integration center or the Government Inspectorate.

"Essentially, this model is suitable for the current situation in Vietnam," the Government Inspectorate stated.

One of the functions of a transparent asset database system is to verify the completeness and accuracy of asset declarations. Accordingly, the verification process will involve several methods, including: checking each declaration individually (periodically, regularly, or unexpectedly); comparing declarations from different periods to track changes; cross-checking the declaration content against external databases; and analyzing the declaration content to identify inconsistencies.

The draft plan also proposes prioritizing the verification of asset declarations of high-ranking officials, officials whose positions and authority have changed, those at high risk of corruption, or those with significant changes in assets, or those who have been the subject of complaints.

Public disclosure of asset declarations is not a substitute for verification.

"By publicly disclosing the assets of civil servants and public employees, we will demonstrate public trust, reassure the people, and show the Party and State's determination in the fight against corruption. By facilitating access to the declarations, we will first serve the public's expectations regarding the system's performance, and at the same time, act as a warning and deterrent to civil servants who fail to comply with the declaration requirements," the drafting agency assessed.

However, the Government Inspectorate acknowledges that public disclosure of assets to the public and society cannot completely replace effective monitoring and verification of management. Even in a developed country, direct access to relevant data sources to support the verification of declarations (tax identification numbers, bank account numbers, real estate information) is completely impossible.

The Government Inspectorate also assessed that one of the negative impacts of developing the plan is the excessive expectation placed on the asset transparency system as an effective tool for combating corruption. Implementing the plan may also create initial challenges for responsible agencies, as implementing anti-corruption measures always requires very high political determination and must be carried out regularly, persistently, and over the long term.

"The system itself cannot be a prerequisite if the institutional framework for integrity and anti-corruption of an entire nation is not yet complete," the agency assessed.

To implement the above project, it is necessary to complete the legal framework for declaring and transparently disclosing assets and income. In particular, the verification of assets and income must aim to identify the illegitimate nature of assets and illicit enrichment, not just to verify the accuracy of the declarations made by those required to declare them.

In addition, the disclosure of sensitive personal information must be linked to legal regulations so that those required to declare understand why they have to disclose such personal information.

"Legal regulations need to recognize violations of privacy rights based on the ethical obligation of public officials to serve the public interest. Therefore, for the transparency of assets and income to be effectively implemented, a broader legal framework is needed, which is linked to amendments to tax and criminal laws that are connected to the asset declaration system," the Government Inspectorate proposed.

According to Dantri.com.vn