Executive Yuan approves NT$27 billion Hualien disaster recovery package

Taipei, Nov. 13 (CNA) The Executive Yuan on Thursday approved a NT$27 billion (US$870 million) special budget to rebuild areas affected by the Matai'an Creek barrier lake disaster in Hualien County.

The budget will support systemic management of Matai'an Creek and the Hualien River, emergency repairs and reconstruction of the Matai'an Creek bridge, monitoring and response work for the barrier lake, sediment-control projects, and temporary housing for disaster victims.

Under earlier plans, NT$25 billion was allocated for recovery efforts in the barrier lake disaster area.

The Legislative Yuan later passed a third-reading version that created a separate Special Act for post-disaster reconstruction of the Matai'an Creek barrier lake in Hualien County and raised the allocation to NT$30 billion.

The NT$27 billion budget approved Thursday will be submitted to the Legislative Yuan for review.

An additional NT$3 billion has been set aside as a reserve for rolling adjustments.

Of the total funds, NT$9.1 billion falls under the Ministry of Economic Affairs, which will use the money for systemic river management, disaster-resilience upgrades to the power distribution network, repairs to damaged water-supply equipment, water and electricity fee reductions for affected households, and loan-interest subsidies for businesses in disaster areas.

More than NT$4 billion has been allocated to the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Ministry of Environment.

Their responsibilities include repairing and rebuilding the Matai'an Creek bridge, subsidizing local governments for road and bridge repairs, managing compensation for destroyed vehicles, conducting monitoring and sediment-control work for the barrier lake, and acquiring land in affected areas.

They will also handle reforestation, reconstruction of the agricultural production environment, fallowing measures, subsidies for agricultural machinery, and post-disaster waste removal and processing.

The Ministry of the Interior will oversee NT$2.8 billion to support local governments in clearing stormwater and wastewater sewer systems, carrying out repairs to urban roads and public facilities, issuing home-recovery relief funds, and providing temporary housing.

Another NT$600 million falls under the Executive Yuan. This includes loans and interest subsidies for indigenous communities, public facility reconstruction, and disaster-recovery coordination handled by the Public Construction Commission.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare will administer NT$100 million to support reconstruction of damaged medical buildings and restoration of medical equipment.

The entire NT$27 billion in expenditures will be funded through borrowing.