As the SARS outbreak is estimated to be brought under control completely by the middle of the month, the Executive Yuan is poised to launch reconstruction projects totaling NT$128.4 billion.
The projects encompass the NT$50 billion SARS Prevention and Relief Statute (
"A Cabinet-level post-SARS reconstruction committee, chaired by Vice Premier Lin Hsin-i (
The post-SARS reconstruction projects will focus on four major areas, Yu said. The project will focus on reconstruction of the economy, the medical system, social order and the nation's image.
To help the tourism and aviation industries better cope with the financial plight caused by the outbreak, Yu said the Cabinet has provided such short-term bail-out programs such as fiduciary loans and interest subsidies to industries having difficulties paying their employees' salaries.
Applicants meeting certain criteria can borrow funds from the government's contracted banks until July 31. The accumulated ceiling of a loan is NT$20 million per company.
To help the tourism industry ease its financial burden, the government will provide 4 percent interest subsidies to those whose loan applications are approved between April 1 and July 1 this year. The ceiling of a loan has been set at NT$1 million.
To help the aviation industry better cope with the fallout from the outbreak, the government will extend a one-year relief program designed to alleviate the financial difficulties of the industry following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the US by another year.
The arrangement will cost an estimated NT$1 billion.
In a bid to help the transportation industry ease its financial woes, the Cabinet announced yesterday that it will issue each of the nation's 103,000 individual taxi drivers a 500-liter gas voucher, which is valid until Sept. 30.
The arrangement is estimated to cost NT$1.2 billion.
Tour bus operators having difficulties paying their employees' salaries will be eligible for the fiduciary loans and interest subsidies.
The government also plans to give NT$100 million to local governments to bring consumers back to traditional markets and boost consumer activities.
To reconstruct the medical system, Yu said the government will strengthen the functions and reorganize the structure of the Center for Disease Control (CDC).
"The SARS outbreak highlights the importance of the health-care system and th medical-safety network," Yu said. "In the worst-case scenario, the CDC has to be able to handle such terrorism activity as a biological attack."
To boost the nation's image, Yu said the nation has to show that Taiwan has the ability to contain SARS.
As the legislative session is scheduled to end by the end of the month, Yu called on the legislature to pass as many government initiatives as possible.
"While the legislature so far has passed only 30-odd bills during this session, I don't have any problem if the legislature plans to extend the session or holds a provisionary session to review more bills," he said.
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