The Legislative Yuan yesterday approved a proposed amendment that would double the cap on a special budget to support COVID-19 economic relief measures to NT$840 billion (US$30.37 billion).
The amendments to the Special Act for Prevention, Relief and Revitalization Measures for Severe Pneumonia with Novel Pathogens (嚴重特殊傳染性肺炎防治及紓困振興特別條例) also extended the act, which was set to expire at the end of this month, to June 30 next year.
The act was first introduced last year as COVID-19 began to spread globally, with the budget capped at NT$210 billion to ease the virus’ impact on the economy.
Photo: CNA
The budget has since received two additional increases and currently stands at NT$420 billion.
The Cabinet on May 13 sent a proposed amendment raising the budget by NT$210 billion to NT$630 billion to the Legislative Yuan for review.
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislative caucus raised the budget to NT$840 billion, given the increasing number of domestic transmissions of unknown origin.
The amended act is expected to take effect on Thursday once it is promulgated by the president. Only after that would the Cabinet make public specific budget proposals on how the money should be spent, which would then be reviewed by the Legislative Yuan.
On receiving the budget proposals from the Cabinet, the Legislative Yuan is scheduled to hold a round of cross-party meetings on Friday to discuss when to hold an extraordinary legislative session to review them, as the last session ended yesterday, DPP caucus whip Liu Shyh-fang (劉世芳) said.
According to the Executive Yuan, the funds would be used to help individuals and industries hardest hit by the outbreak and disease control restrictions. This would include loans to people in need.
One measure is a one-off payment of NT$10,000 per child to families with elementary-school age and younger children, as well as teenage students with disabilities. There is also a one-time subsidy of NT$10,000 to NT$30,000 for farmers, fishers, tour guides, taxi drivers and the self-employed, among others.
Lawmakers yesterday also passed 206 resolutions, including one ensuring that a special legislative task force, established to review government data on the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines, would continue to operate in the next legislative session.
The committee was created on May 5 in response to opposition party allegations that Taiwanese have been kept in the dark on the issue.
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
CASUALTY: A 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree in Kaohsiung as the premier warned all government agencies to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours Schools and offices nationwide are to be closed for a second day today as Typhoon Gaemi crosses over the nation, bringing torrential rain and whipping winds. Gaemi was forecast to make landfall late last night. From Tuesday night, its outer band brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to the nation. As of 6:15pm last night, the typhoon’s center was 20km southeast of Hualien County, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. It was moving at 19kph and had a radius of 250km. As of 3pm yesterday, one woman had died, while 58 people were injured, the Central Emergency Operation Center said. The 70-year-old