Faster and accessible services of a higher quality, decentralization objective

Decentralization will enable the local public authorities to provide faster and accessible services of a higher quality for the people, said Veaceslav Bulat, expert of the Joint Integrated Local Development Program, Info-Prim Neo reports. In the program “Rostul zilei” on the radio station Vocea Basarabiei, Veaceslav Bulat said there are two decentralization bills. One was drafted by four lawmakers, while the other one by UNDP experts. A number of proposals were formulated after analyzing the MPs' bill. They were included in the second bill. It is proposed increasing the powers of the Chisinau Municipal Council and the specialized commissions that will monitor the situation in all the social spheres, and delimiting the powers of the Council and the City Hall. According to Veaceslav Bulat, the Council spends a lot of time on examining minor issues that can be dealt with by the City Hall. Another proposal is to define the status of the district heads' offices of Chisinau and exclude the local councils and local district head's offices as their creation will cause considerable damage to the municipal budget. The setting up of such councils and offices is stipulated in the law on the status of Chisinau municipality of 2006, which was to be implemented after the local elections of 2011. Veaceslav Bulat also said the district heads offices must be preserved, but their powers must be clearly defined. Local autonomy means own incomes, grants for investments, financing according to transparent rules and objective criteria, stressed the expert of the Joint Integrated Local Development Program. In the same program, municipal councilor Emil Gutu said the residents of Chisinau should pronounce on the bill before it is put to the vote as they are the ones that will benefit from the effects of decentralization. “The people do not care who will solve their problems. They need services of a high quality,” he said. The head of Rascani district Mihail Carlig said the municipality of Chisinau during the last few years witnessed an open fight between the liberal Mayor Dorin Chirtoaca and the Communist Government. “The power was concentrated in one hand. The mayor was blamed for everything, but his duties are not reduced to simply cleaning up the city,” he said. According to the experts, after the decentralization strategy is implemented, Moldova will have a democratic and autonomous local administration that will be able to provide public services meeting the needs and preferences of the people. Launched in 2007, the Join UNDP-UNIFEM Integrated Local Development Program aims to strengthen legal and regulatory frameworks and streamline local administrative procedures and systems. There is an emphasis on developing and implementing a framework for the effective delegation of authority to the local public authorities, fiscal decentralization to deliver essential services, and the promotion of a greater role for women in decision-making bodies. The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency made a substantial contribution to the program.