The Executive Yuan yesterday approved a budget plan for rebuilding in the aftermath of last month’s Typhoon Danas and extensive flooding, which includes NT$11 billion (US$360.6 million) for improving electricity infrastructure.
The entire budget, with a ceiling of NT$60 billion, would be funded by borrowing, the Cabinet said.
The legislature on Friday last week passed the budget with some changes, raising the ceiling to NT$60 billion from the NT$56 billion initially proposed by the Cabinet, and specifying nine target areas for reconstruction, including agriculture, irrigation, electricity infrastructure and telecommunications equipment.
Photo: Taipei Times
The Cabinet yesterday announced plans to allocate NT$19.1 billion for this year, NT$31.6 billion for next year and NT$9.3 billion for 2027.
The budget would allow the government to allocate NT$10.1 billion for agriculture facilities, NT$11 billion for electricity systems, NT$11.1 billion for irrigation and NT$8.9 billion for roads and traffic, according to the plan.
The Ministry of Agriculture would supervise NT$20.3 billion of the budget, which would be used to subsidize local governments on reconstruction projects concerning agriculture.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs would supervise NT$18.7 billion, which would be used to build a disaster-resilient power grid, subsidize local governments for water supply systems reconstruction and provide relevant aid to hard-hit areas.
The Ministry of Transportation and Communications would supervise NT$6.9 billion, which would be used for roads and tourist attraction reconstruction.
The Cabinet would be in charge of NT$5 billion, which would cover subsidies for the Council of Indigenous Peoples and local governments for hillside reconstruction, subsidies for the National Communications Commission for rebuilding cable TV systems, and a budget for the Public Construction Commission to set up an office to lead reconstruction projects.
The Ministry of the Interior would be in charge of NT$3.8 billion, which would be allocated for urgent maintenance of public facilities, and the reconstruction of roads and bridges in urban areas.
The Ministry of Environment would be in charge of NT$1.6 billion, which would be used for subsidizing local governments for post-disaster environmental restoration projects.
The Ministry of Education would be in charge of NT$400 million for school campus maintenance, while the Ministry of Culture would be in charge of NT$300 million for cultural heritage maintenance.
NT$3 billion would be reserved for unexpected needs, according to the plan.
Additional reporting by CNA
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