News
Cabinet approves funds for Hualien reconstruction
The cabinet has approved several post-earthquake recovery and reconstruction plans for Hualien.
According to cabinet spokesman Lin Zi-lun, Premier Chen Chien-jen has ordered related ministries to activate plans to repair and rebuild public buildings, provide subsidies and revitalize industry. Lin says the total budget for the plans has been estimated at NT$28.55 billion. Of that total, NT$18.44 billion will be used to repair and rebuild public buildings, NT$5.84 billion to rebuild private residences and provide shelter, NT$4.08 billion has been earmarked to revitalize industry and NT$190 million for insurance subsidies and employment assistance.
The cabinet spokesman says severe damage to the Taroko National Park will be addressed in three stages - those being urgent repairs, enhanced safety measures and the upgrading of disaster prevention technology to enhance tourism safety.
The premier has ordered the Ministry of the Interior to establish an office in Hualien to oversee reconstruction work. Funding for the plans will come from central government special funds, forward-looking infrastructure funding, post-pandemic special funds, tax revenue, reserve funds from central and local governments, as well as private donations.
In related news, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications has announced accommodation subsidies of up to NT$1,000 for people who go on self-guided tours to Hualien and Taitung. The subsidies are aimed at boosting tourism to Hualien following the 3 April earthquake.
The ministry has allocated NT$5.3 billion to post-quake recovery and reconstruction work, including at least NT$1.3 billion to revitalize the county's tourism industry.
As part of that plan, travellers on self-guided tours can receive accommodation subsidies of NT$1,000 per room if they travel to Hualien from Monday to Thursday, and NT$500 per room if their trip falls on Friday and weekends. Travelers on self-guided tours to Taitung will also be eligible for the subsidies.
Travel agencies running two day group tours of more than 20 people can receive accommodation subsidies of up to NT$20,000 for each group that visits Hualien and NT$15,000 for Taitung. The subsidies programme begins on 1 July and remains in effect for three months.
