Legislators yesterday approved amendments setting a starting date that limits National Communications Commission (NCC) members to two terms effective Dec. 1, paving the way for the dismissal of NCC Acting Chairman Wong Po-tsung (翁柏宗) and potentially suspending the body’s work for the time being.
The amendments passed their third reading with the combined 55 votes of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) against the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) 48 votes.
The changes to the National Communications Commission Organization Act (國家通訊傳播委員會組織法) setting term limits and removing clauses regarding extensions or reappointments were initially passed in July, but did not include a timeline for when they would go into effect.
Photo: Liu Hsin-de, Taipei Times
The Executive Yuan thus appointed then-NCC vice chairman Wong as acting chairman on July 30, the day before then-chairman Chen Yaw-shyang (陳耀祥) completed his term.
NCC Secretary-General Huang Wen-che (黃文哲) said that at present, only three of the seven NCC commissioners remain in office after four departed upon completing their term at the end of July.
Once Wong leaves, the three commissioners would not be able to administer the body’s 104 tasks and functions, since a quorum of at least four members is needed to convene decisionmaking meetings, Huang said.
The opposition parties have opposed reviewing and confirming nominees for NCC commissioners presented by the DPP government.
The amendments state that commissioners would be appointed to a four-year term, which can only be extended once.
While Article 16 of the act stipulates that “the promulgation date of the act is to be set per order of the Executive Yuan,” the opposition-backed amendments state that “the promulgation date of the act would be set for Dec. 1,” blocking Wong from continuing to serve as commissioner as he had completed his term at the end of July and terminating his post as acting chairman at the start of next month.
The KMT and the TPP have opposed Wong serving as acting chairman, deeming him a political appointee who guides and steers the commission’s policies and guidelines in favor of the DPP government.
DPP caucus chief executive Rosalia Wu (吳思瑤) accused the opposition parties of trying to stop the NCC from carrying out its work.
Without the NCC supervising or regulating telecommunications and Internet affairs, all Taiwanese would be affected, she said.
“The NCC has to manage regulations and measures that affect people’s daily lives and economic activities, including media and broadcasting, Internet and mobile phone services, signal transmissions and cellular networks. Unfortunately, the opposition is using politics to paralyze the NCC, which harms all citizens,” Wu said.
The four commissioners who had completed their terms at the end of July are Wong, Chen, Lin Li-yun (林麗雲) and Wang Wei-ching (王維菁).
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
SIX SUBSIDIES: The monthly allowance for older farmers is to increase to NT$10,000, and NT$5,000 is to be given to homemakers under the national pension system, Lai said The government is to implement major welfare policies for disadvantaged groups, including raising the monthly allowance for older farmers to NT$10,000 and providing homemakers with NT$5,000 per month, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks during a visit to Wangling Temple in Chiayi County, saying that the planned increases were being introduced amid economic growth and an increase in tax revenue. Touting a policy, in which the government plans to provide a monthly allowance of NT$5,000 for every child under the age of 18 in a bid to address Taiwan’s low birthrate, Lai said that if received for the
STAY COOL: The HPA recommended that people stay hydrated, use air-conditioning or fans while indoors, wear loose-fitting clothes and walk in the shade while outdoors Employers must implement measures such as installing cooling equipment, and providing drinking water and rest breaks for outdoor workers starting from Monday next week, the Taipei Department of Labor said on Sunday. Employers who fail to comply could face fines of NT$30,000 to NT$300,000 under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (職業安全衛生法), the department said. Businesses in Taipei employing fewer than 100 workers, as well as registered self-employed workers with labor insurance coverage, could receive on-site assessments and guidance from occupational safety consultants to help them apply for central government subsidies to implement or improve heat-protection measures, it said. Under the Ministry of
NATIONAL SECURITY: Authorities are working to confirm the identities of the military personnel involved and investigating possible illegal conduct and regulatory violations Authorities are probing possible national security implications after Kinmen police and immigration officers on Sunday found a Chinese woman allegedly posing as a tourist while engaging in prostitution involving more than 10 military personnel. The woman, surnamed Chen (陳), has since been deported, authorities said, adding that investigators are still working to confirm the identities of those implicated, as the records only listed code names and aliases. The case stemmed from a report received by the Kinmen District Prosecutors’ Office on Friday last week from the Jinhu Precinct of the Kinmen County Police Bureau. On Sunday, police, along with the National Immigration
RSS