Premier Cho announces NT$20 billion plan for disaster recovery

Taipei, Oct. 2 (CNA) Taiwan's Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said Thursday the government will aim for NT$20 billion (US$657.69 million) through amendments to the special act for Typhoon Danas and the extremely heavy rain of July 28 to support disaster recovery and reconstruction.

"I hope caucuses across the Legislative Yuan will quickly support this," he said.

Cho explained that the new budget will fund rebuilding in places, including Hualien County, where the overflow of a barrier lake on Matai'an Creek devastated Guangfu Township.

He emphasized that the new funds would not replace existing aid for areas already affected by Typhoon Danas, which hit Taiwan at the beginning of July.

Executive Yuan Spokesperson Michelle Lee (李慧芝) told reporters after an Executive Yuan meeting on Thursday that the special act had already designated all of Hualien County as a disaster area.

Lee quoted Cho as saying that the barrier lake was formed after Typhoon Danas, and the overflow that occurred on Sept. 23 happened after torrential rain.

The Executive Yuan approved a draft of the special act on Aug. 7, and the Legislative Yuan passed it on Aug. 15, increasing the maximum budget from NT$56 billion to NT$60 billion.

The Executive Yuan later passed a special budgetary bill on Aug. 21, and the Legislative Yuan authorized the full NT$60 billion in a third reading on Aug. 29, according to CNA.