The Executive Yuan has allocated NT$5 billion (US$157.81 million) in subsidies for the renovation of residential buildings 30 years old or older to enhance their security and functionality, National Land Management Agency Director-General Tsai Chang-chan (蔡長展) told a post-Cabinet meeting news conference yesterday.
The Ministry of the Interior is to accept applications for renovations of old four to six-story apartment buildings or townhouses under six stories from May to Dec. 31 next year, Tsai said.
Regulations governing the renovation subsidy program stipulate that people must first apply for improvements to building exteriors that would enhance public safety before they can apply for internal renovations.
Photo courtesy of the Hondao Senior Citizen’s Welfare Foundation
Exterior renovations include repairing facades, rooftop waterproofing and heat insulation, stairwell and public pipeline repairs, removal of billboards, signage and illegal structures, and installation of elevators and other features to enhance accessibility, Tsai said.
At least three items from the aforementioned list must be completed before applying for subsidies for interior modifications, such as leveling interior spaces, and installing handrails, anti-slip and fall protection features, he said.
The ministry will also work with other programs, such as the Ministry of Economic Affairs’ Residential Rooftop Solar Energy Installation Acceleration Plan, to provide up to NT$300,000 per application to install solar panels for buildings with a roof area of 1,000m2 or less, Tsai said.
The economics ministry is also to provide a subsidy of NT$3,000 for air-conditioners or refrigerators with an energy-efficiency rating of one, while the Ministry of Health and Welfare program is to provide triennial subsidies of up to NT$40,000 for people with “category two” disabilities or more.
Local governments would be required to set aside funds based on their economic performance to assist with implementing the programs, Tsai said.
UPGRADE: The Kang Ding-class frigate is replacing its Chaparall missiles with Tien Chien II and Hua Yang VLS, which would provide it with long-range, 360° air defense Taiwan plans to produce 1,200 to 1,376 Hai Chien II missiles (海劍二, Sea Sword II) — also known as TC-2N — to serve as the standard air defense system of the navy’s surface combatant fleet, a source said yesterday. Last week, the Hai Chien II, the naval version of the Tien Kung II missile (天劍二, Sky Sword II), completed a live-fire test in waters off the National Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology’s Jiupeng facility (九鵬) in Pingtung County’s Manjhou Township (滿州). The MIM72 Chaparral and other dated air defense missiles that currently arm Taiwanese ships have inadequate range to combat Chinese
REASONS FOR TRAVEL: An assistant professor said that proposed amendments to penalize drivers if they used drugs overseas would not deter people from traveling People who operate a motor vehicle under the influence of marijuana would have their driver’s license revoked, even if they used the substance while overseas, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said yesterday, citing proposed amendments to the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act (道路交通管理處罰條例). The amendments would also authorize the government to revoke the licenses of people determined to have used Category 1 or Category 2 narcotics, even if they were not operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs, as well as ban them from taking the license test for three years, the ministry said. People aged 18 or
Johanne Liou (劉喬安), a Taiwanese woman who shot to unwanted fame during the Sunflower movement protests in 2014, returned to Taiwan last night after being deported from the US. She is to stand trial in Taiwan for charges involving embezzlement, fraud and drug crimes. The Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) said it took her into custody at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and would first question her before transferring her to the New Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office. She was arrested upon disembarking a flight from San Francisco that landed shortly before 7pm. Liou absconded to the US in 2019 after jumping bail
Shih Hsin University President Chen Ching-he (陳清河) yesterday issued a public apology for comments made in his commencement speech last week, stating that he has asked the school to suspend his duties and halt his wages for two months as a show of contrition. At the commencement ceremony on May 30, Chen said, “If you don’t manage your time well, or your own emotions, or your health, then I am telling every one of you — put a quick end to ‘you,’ because the world has no need for ‘you.’” The comments have sparked significant controversy online, and Chen through an open
RSS