Ma still has crack at flood funds

The Taipei City Government still stands a chance of receiving the NT$1.98 billion it requested for flood-control projects on the Keelung River when the Executive Yuan plans the second phase of the dredging project in 2005.

"The city definitely has the chance to obtain the entire amount of the funding if it files its request according to standard procedure and if the evaluation committee considers its request necessary from a professional point of view," said Cabinet Secretary-General Liu Shih-fang (劉世芳).

The central government's flood-control work for the Keelung River is estimated to cost NT$74.2 billion. The first phase of the project, which is scheduled to be executed between July this year and May 2005, will cost NT$31.6 billion. The second phase of the project, which is scheduled to be carried out between June 2005 and June 2008, is estimated to cost NT$42.6 billion.

The Legislative Yuan yesterday approved the NT$31.6 billion proposed by the Cabinet for the first phase of the project. It also voted in favor of the proposal put forth by the DPP and TSU caucuses that the Cabinet put any leftover funds toward the NT$350 million requested by the Taipei City Government.

The city had originally asked the Cabinet to contribute NT$1.98 billion to its part of the dredging project, including the NT$134 million relocation of the 72-year-old Chungshan Bridge, NT$1.3 billion for dredging and the construction of levees along a tributary of the river -- the Huangkung River -- and NT$350 million for dredging another tributary -- the Neikou River.

The legislature's decision yesterday drew mixed responses from the Executive Yuan and the Taipei City Government.

Premier Yu Shyi-kun, who visited legislative speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) immediately after the showdown vote yesterday afternoon, expressed his gratitude to Wang and other legislators for passing the Cabinet's proposed budget.

"The approval of the budget means a lot for the flood-control measures," he said.

It is unclear, however, as to when or how the Cabinet will contribute to the city's request of NT$350 million.

"I'm afraid I won't be able to tell you until I sit down with Cabinet officials to discuss the matter," Yu said.

Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) said he is not happy with the outcome but is grateful that the Legislative Yuan corrected some of the errors made by granting the city NT$350 million.

"I'll continue to ask for more funding from the government," he said. "Hopefully, our requests will be fulfilled."

Ma also blasted Lee Ying-yuan (李應元), the DPP's candidate in the year-end race for Taipei City mayor, for not doing his best to fight for the city's interests when he served as Cabinet secretary-general.

"Someone obviously didn't do his job when he was at the Executive Yuan," he said. "If he genuinely cares about the safety and interests of the citizens of Taipei, he should have helped the city get the funding."

Earlier in the day, Lee, accompanied by DPP legislative leader Wang Tuoh (王拓), held a press conference at the Legislative Yuan before the showdown vote to call on the opposition parties to support the Cabinet's proposed budget.

"Taipei citizens will be the ultimate beneficiary if the budget is passed," he said. "I have no problem with supporting the NT$350 million budget, but the remaining NT$1.4 billion is just too much."