Disaster mitigation projects, social welfare benefits, public transport subsidies, and many programs affecting society and people’s livelihood are in jeopardy because opposition parties refuse to pass this year’s general budget, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said yesterday.
It is the first time in Taiwan’s history that the general budget for the next year has not been approved before the end of the year.
“We hope all parties can work together to approve the budget for people’s livelihoods, strive forward for our nation and cooperate in this new year,” Cho said.
Photo: Liu Hsin-de, Taipei Times
Many new policies and social welfare programs cannot proceed, as the budget is stalled in the legislature, Cho said, citing as examples plans to boost monthly pension payments for farmers, a special fund for young people heading into higher education and subsidies for public transportation networks.
Vital funds for prevention and relief of natural disasters are also being withheld, including NT$17 billion (US$540.75 million) for the Disaster Reserve Fund and Second Contingency Fund, and NT$14.7 billion earmarked for river management and flood mitigation projects, he said.
Taiwan has to deal with many natural disasters, but as legislators are blocking the general budget, the Cabinet cannot use the funds and has no financial resources for disaster relief and recovery, DPP Taipei City Councilor Chien Shu-pei (簡舒培) said, adding: “What would local governments and residents do if they are hit by serious flooding or earthquakes?”
“Their objective is for victims and local authorities to complain and accuse the central government of doing nothing when disasters hit,” Chien said. “They do not care for our national security and resiliency, and only seek political gain and to bring down the ruling government.”
Cho said there are already funds earmarked for important infrastructure projects and new subsidy programs for outlying islands planned for this year, but cannot begin due to the stalled budget.
These include subsidies for Penghu County’s public transport network under the TPASS program, which has been allocated NT$74.67 million, as well as river management and sewer system improvement projects for Kinmen and Lienchaing counties, he said.
“Cabinet agencies have done much to become a strong pillar of support for outlying counties and enhance their connections with Taiwan proper, creating numerous infrastructure projects to promote tourism and economic growth, and improve the livelihood of residents,” Cho said.
Chien asked opposition parties “to work in cooperation with the Cabinet, and not cause discord and political wrangling by blocking the budget to hobble the central government’s functioning.”
“We need the budget for the economy to thrive, to patch up our social welfare net, to provide assistance to older people, young people and young families, and to fund programs to ensure our national security, and enhance public safety and whole-of-society civil defense resilience,” she added.
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