The Legislative Yuan yesterday passed the government’s special budget request for post-Typhoon Morakot reconstruction, but froze one third of the Council for Indigenous Peoples’ budget request for reconstruction and victim accommodation.
Legislators cut the NT$120 billion (US$3.7 billion) special budget request by about NT$3.5 billion, while allowing the central government to take out loans to raise the money.
A total of NT$34.1 billion out of the budget will be earmarked for reconstruction work for the current fiscal year, while NT$53.4 billion will be spent on reconstruction projects for next year.
The legislature also passed two resolutions proposed by the Non-Partisan Solidarity Union and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to freeze one third of the council’s NT$5.4 billion budget request for reconstruction of water supply systems, road maintenance and infrastructure reconstruction in disaster-hit areas, plus another NT$2.1 billion budget proposal earmarked for providing housing for victims of the typhoon.
The resolutions mentioned that the council failed to gain approval from the Executive Yuan for its budget request and also failed to submit plans to the legislature detailing how the money would be spent.
The budget should not be unfrozen until after the council wins approval from relevant legislative committees, the resolutions said.
The legislature also passed a resolution proposed by DPP legislators to freeze 30 percent of the NT$40 million budget requested by the Council for Cultural Affairs for a community emotional support project in disaster areas.
In addition, lawmakers froze one third of the NT$2.5 billion budget set aside for agricultural reconstruction and flood prevention projects proposed by the Forestry Bureau.
The legislature agreed to freeze one third of the NT$313 million budget requested by the National Fire Agency for disaster prevention education because the Executive Yuan has earmarked NT$600 million for similar purposes over the years.
Legislators also resolved that the Executive Yuan should consult typhoon victims before relocating them to halfway houses or permanent residences.
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