Kinmen to distribute unclaimed vouchers to students, disadvantaged

Kinmen, Sept. 24 (CNA) Kinmen Magistrate Yang Cheng-wu (楊鎮浯) on Wednesday said the county will distribute unclaimed county stimulus vouchers among local students and disadvantaged families, with each entitled to receive NT$1,000 (US$34.10).

Taiwan's outlying county in mid-July began rolling out 1.12 million "1+1 Stimulus Vouchers," each with a face value of NT$500.

Under the program, Kinmen residents are allowed to purchase NT$4,000 in vouchers for NT$2,000 as part of the local government's efforts to help revive domestic consumption amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The vouchers, targeting those registered in the county before June 23, were offered in two phases, the first being July 17-19, and the second July 29-31, and are valid only until Dec. 31, according to the Kinmen County government.

Roughly 10 percent of the 1.12 million vouchers remain unclaimed and will be distributed among local students, mid-to-low income households and disadvantaged families in Kinmen, Yang said, noting that those group number roughly 16,200 people.

The county currently has about 140,000 Kinmen-registered residents, but only 60,000 reside permanently in the county, the magistrate explained, adding that he hopes to see the vouchers go to help those in need.

According to the Kinmen government, 1,200 individuals are classified as belonging to disadvantaged groups in the county, along with 15,000 students who already receive transportation subsidies.