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Hsieh calls for passage of flood-control budget

" I hope the pan-blue camp will show their compassion to people who are suffering."

Frank Hsieh, former premier

Former premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) showed up at the Legislative Yuan yesterday to urge the opposition parties to pass the budget for flood control during the special legislative session, saying it was essential to relieve the pain of the people who live in flooded areas.

Hsieh made the remarks at a press conference held in the Legislative Yuan.

Accompanied by his team, Hsieh said that the proposed budgets for flood-control were initiated during his premiership and some of the budgets that had been passed have proved to be effective in solving flooding problems.

Hsieh also commented on the presidential recall motion, saying he did not think that it would pass because it would need two-thirds of the legislative votes.

"The recall motion is just a political gesture on the part of the pan-blue camp. The most important thing right now is to pass the budgets for flood control," Hsieh said.

"I hope the pan-blue camp will show their compassion to people who are suffering," he said.

Days of torrential rain in central Taiwan have caused an estimated NT$798.5 million (US$24.6 million) in damage to farm produce and livestock, including vegetables, fruit and poultry, Council of Agriculture officials said yesterday.

The most severely damaged were watermelons, grapes and rice, the officials added.

Meanwhile, the council announced an aid program for farmers in affected areas from Hsinchu in the north to Chiayi in the south.

The council estimated agricultural losses at NT$668 million for 3,591 hectares of farmland, or 18 percent of the total, with lost crops including rice, watermelons, grapes, pears, oranges and green vegetables such as spring onions.

Livestock losses, including hogs, chickens, ducks and geese, were estimated at NT$6.4 million, and fishery losses were estimated at NT$1.8 million, mainly in Chiayi and Yunlin counties.

Farmland that has been inundated or washed away represented estimated losses of NT$33.8 million.

The council said it was offering cash aid and low-interest loans to help affected farmers.
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