At Thursday's weekly Cabinet meeting, Premier Cho Jung-tai was briefed by the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) on a program to help local governments improve rivers and drainage systems to address climate change impacts. The premier said that in response to the extreme rainfall due to climate change, long-term and sustained investment in flood control and prevention projects is essential for strengthening disaster resilience. The program, which will be centrally coordinated and jointly implemented by multiple ministries and agencies, will adopt a precise, smart and systematic approach to flood management, supporting local governments in improving their management of rivers and drainage systems.
Premier Cho emphasized that the government needs to accelerate the pace of its flood control and prevention projects. He therefore instructed the MOEA to revise the program's implementation timeline, shortening it from six years to four, with a completion deadline of 2029, while maintaining the total budget of NT$100 billion (approximately US$3.4 billion). Premier Cho also called for the full cooperation of local governments in pursuing new policy goals: minimizing flood-affected areas, maximizing drainage speed and meeting the highest safety standards.