TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) visited Yilan on Saturday (Nov. 2) with government officials and pledged to nearly double the central government’s water control budget to NT$55.1 billion (US$1.72 billion) next year.
Lai said increased funding would allow the government to better manage flooding from typhoons. Lai inspected the Wujie tide-proof gate on Dongshan River, which has been useful in preventing flooding, attracting more people to travel and live in Yilan.
Lai said Typhoon Kong-rey damaged local farmland and crops in and around Yilan. He thanked the Central Emergency Operations Center (CEOC) and the municipal government for coordinating services during the typhoon, limiting damage, and allowing relief work to be deployed quickly, per CNA.
Lai said Yilan's central government provided water pumps and flood-related prevention equipment after heavy rain warnings.
According to Lai, the Ministry of National Defense deployed 36,000 soldiers to assist in disaster prevention and post-disaster reconstruction. Military personnel assisted in Dongshan, Yuanshan, Zhuangwei, and Suao townships.
Lai said that after former President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) took office, NT$9.5 billion was invested in Yilan’s water conservancy, with approximately NT$8 billion still in progress. Lai said that Tsai annually increased water conservation budgets based on the needs of areas.
Lai said he hoped his proposed budget increase would be approved. He said it would allow municipal governments to implement water conservancy projects to provide greater protection from typhoons and torrential rains.
Furthermore, Lai encouraged the Ministry of Agriculture to raise the relief allowances for local farmers who have suffered from national disasters. According to government statistics, agricultural losses incurred due to the typhoon had surpassed NT$480 million.
Hualien and Yunlin counties suffered the most losses, with NT$150 million and NT$170 million respectively, according to the Ministry of Agriculture. Assistance for farmers is Yilan, Hualien, and Taitung will include cash distributions and low-interest loans.
