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Chen wants reform of Cabinet speeded up to please public

During the Democratic Progres-sive Party's (DPP) central standing committee meeting yesterday, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) ordered the speeding up of the downsizing of the Cabinet's departments and ministries.

Chen said the Cabinet's restructuring was not simply a secondary reform measure to be undertaken, but was also a realization of the government's commitment to the people.

Chen made the remarks after hearing a special report presented by Yeh Jiunn-rong (葉俊榮), chairman of the Research, Development and Evaluation Commission yesterday.

Yeh said that the Executive Yuan will soon undergo a major downsizing, with the number of its ministries, councils and commissions cut from 36 to 22.

"But it is not about the numbers. It's about the government's competitiveness," Yeh said.

Yeh pointed out that the Cabinet planned to restructure its 36 organizations into 13 ministries, 4 councils and 5 independent commissions, in accordance with the Central Government Organization Standard Act (中央行政機關基準法) passed in June. The Act is designed to make the government work more efficiently and control spending more effectively.

"The downsizing will reduce the overlap of government resources and functions, and will revamp the government into a structure more suitable for Taiwan," Yeh said.

Yeh also stressed that the restructuring project will not downgrade the status of the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), a move that has been questioned by the public. Instead, the MAC will become a policymaking body.

After hearing the special report, Chen, also the DPP's chairman, said that the restructuring will streamline the current cumbersome system, which is imperative for government reform.

"Reform is a basic action needed to promote the country's competitiveness," Chen said. "The government needs to undergo functional and structural adjustments, so that it can face the challenges that come along with globalization, as well as new economic pressures."

Chen added that the government will protect civil servants' rights and will ensure that they keep their jobs.

Meanwhile, the president yesterday also unveiled signs in the DPP's headquarters which count down the remaining days until the legislative elections -- 88 days. The number "88" is considered auspicious in Confucian tradition.

Chen reminded DPP members of the goal of winning more than 50 percent of legislative seats in December, which will help the government implement reform projects smoothly.

The party also unveiled two campaign mascots that resemble Chen Shih-hsin (陳詩欣) and Chu Mu-yen (朱木炎), Taiwan's Olympic taekwondo gold medallists, saying that the party will also provide candidates who are "gold-medal contenders," DPP Information and Culture Department Director Cheng Wen-tsan (鄭文燦) said.

Cheng also said that the complete list of legislator-at-large nominees will be announced next week.
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