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Cabinet sits down with local heads to discuss projects
By Shih Hsiu-Chuan
STAFF REPORTER
Wednesday, Sep 10, 2008, Page 3
Heads of local governments met with Cabinet officials yesterday to discuss difficulties in carrying out construction work covered by the NT$58.3 billion (US$1.83 billion) budget the Executive Yuan set aside to boost up the nation’s economy.
In late May the Executive Yuan allocated the NT$58.3 billion for infrastructure projects proposed by counties and cities. Close to the entirety of that money was sent to local governments last month following approval by the legislature in the middle of July.
Premier Liu Chao-shiuan (劉兆玄) organized the meeting yesterday to “enhance cooperation between central and local governments” in creating jobs and stimulating the slumping market, Executive Yuan Spokeswoman Vanessa Shih (史亞平) told a press conference after the two-hour meeting.
Huang Wan-shiang (黃萬翔), a vice chairman of the Council for Economic Planning and Development, said the completion of the local construction projects by the end of this year was expected to contribute to a 0.4 percentage point increase in GDP growth.
The global economic situation could have an impact on that growth, Huang said..
Public Construction Commission Chairman Fan Liang-xiu (范良銹) said Liu had instructed the commission to create three task forces to address the construction projects — one for mass rapid transit systems, one for flood prevention projects and another for other projects.
Shih said that Liu had also urged Cabinet agencies to dispatch the remaining NT$1.7 billion to local governments as quickly as possible and called on local governments to execute the projects as soon as possible.
Shih said that the Chiayi City, Yunlin County and Pingtung County governments had yet to implement the budget as their councils had not approved construction plans.
At the meeting yesterday, Liu also urged local government chiefs to resume work on infrastructure projects — with a value estimated at NT$14 billion nationwide — that have been suspended because of rising commodity prices.
The Executive Yuan has also allocated NT$20 billion nationwide to prevent local construction delays or stoppages caused by the price increase.
Starting next month, the Executive Yuan will grant monthly subsidies ranging from NT$3,000 to NT$6,000 to 450,000 families at risk of falling into poverty, with a total of NT$13.5 billion earmarked for the for the six-month project.
Some county commissioners from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) disagreed with the plan.
Chiayi County Commissioner Chen Ming-wen (陳明文) said the projects cannot fit the needs of all cities and counties, as each has specific needs.
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