Premier Lin Chuan headed to Xizhi District in New Taipei City Monday to inspect homes damaged by Tropical Storm Aere's heavy rainfall over the National Day weekend. After ordering central government agencies to work closely with local authorities to rebuild the affected regions, he instructed the Ministry of National Defense and the armed forces to support relief and rescue operations.
Lin also directed Council of Indigenous Peoples Minister Icyang Parod and the Executive Yuan's Eastern Taiwan Joint Services Center Executive Director Hsu Chuan-sheng to head to Taitung today to survey flood-hit areas and assist county officials in disaster relief and reconstruction efforts.
The Public Construction Commission (PCC) also began infrastructure restoration projects today in cities and counties that suffered flooding from October's torrential rains. Under regulations governing central government funding for local governments to aid in disaster relief efforts, local authorities are being asked to report flood losses while activating disaster reserve funds or adjusting their annual budgets. If funding is still insufficient for post-disaster recovery, they may apply to the Executive Yuan for assistance, and the PCC and the other central agencies will process the applications immediately to speed up the review process.
Other agencies, including the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), the Council of Agriculture (COA) and the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) have established emergency task forces and deployed resources in the wake of intense precipitation over the weekend.
Now that the rain has tapered off, the Executive Yuan has ordered the MOTC to quickly repair railways, roads and bridges; the Taiwan Railways Administration had already restored service on the South Link Line between Taimali and Jhihben stations by 3 p.m. on Monday. The MOEA was asked to oversee local flood relief projects in accordance with government standards regarding flood damage relief, and the COA was instructed to stem the rise in post-typhoon produce prices by encouraging farmers groups and produce distributors to sell frozen vegetables such as broccoli. The council will also send technical service teams to help affected farmers resume production as quickly as possible.
In addition, the Executive Yuan directed the PCC to set up a special project platform to help Taitung's Hongye and Aiguopu villages recover from severe landslides. The central government will extend every effort to help Taitung County in its restoration and reconstruction efforts.