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Editorial: Plugging the cracks and leaks

A storm front has brought many days of heavy rainfall to the center and south, causing severe flooding in Kaohsiung and Pingtung counties, and forcing the evacuation of many low-lying areas. According to figures from the National Disaster Prevention Center, two people have died as a result of the torrential rains, which have caused at least NT$23.680 million in losses to the agriculture sector. With the possibility of the rains continuing for another week, the potential damage is limitless.

Although rain is not something that humans can control, it is absolutely essential for the government to try to reduce the damage caused by such disasters to the lowest possible level. The spring rains and the typhoon season often cause inundations, and the probability of flooding in low-lying coastal and river flats and mudslides in mountain areas are greatly increased. But what causes the greatest public resentment is that in many areas flooding is a recurring problem that dates back many years, and although the government repeatedly offers assurances -- after each disaster -- that something will be done, nothing ever is. All that ever happens is more apologies are proffered, more promises are made.

In February, the Water Resources Agency drafted articles on flood-management. The Executive Yuan approved the articles and necessary budget last month, providing NT$80 billion over an eight-year period for flood-prevention projects in both urban and rural areas. These projects would greatly increase the prosperity and security of the people, but this bill, like many other important pieces of legislation, is now stalled in the legislature until the next session opens in September.

Between now and September, the country will experience the typhoon season, when the need for flood control is at its most urgent. If the legislation is delayed until September, who knows how many people will suffer as a result?

The Democratic Progressive Party's legislative caucus proposed holding an extraordinary session next month to deal with bills that are relatively urgent. But the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the People First Party's (PFP) legislative caucuses vetoed the proposal on Sunday. Now that the heavy rains and floods have created a need for urgent legislation and special budgets, the pan-blue camp's legislators should carefully reconsider the request for a special session.

Of course, the pan-blues can decide to enjoy their holidays and veto the proposal again. But this callous disregard for life and death could provoke anger in the rain-soaked and flooded areas. If northern and eastern Taiwan are also hit by heavy rains and floods during the typhoon season, the pan-blue camp should be prepared to pay the price in the year-end elections.

It is unbearable to see the scenes of devastation caused by the flooding. If the politicians were willing to make a greater effort, such unfortunate incidents could be prevented. The Executive Yuan's effort is already late, but at least it has proposed a solution. Now, everyone is looking to the legislature, to see whether the lawmakers are willing to meet and pass the proposed special statutes and budgets in a timely manner. The lawmakers may not be able to do anything to help the current victims, but they could do a lot to ease the worries of potential storm victims. Unfortunately, most appear willing to sit back and do nothing -- until the next tragedy -- at which point they will be more than happy to grab some airtime by holding a press conference to blame someone else for not doing enough to prevent whatever has happened from happening.
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