Today at the first meeting of a task force established by the Executive Yuan to coordinate post-Feb. 6 earthquake reconstruction and rehabilitation, Minister without Portfolio Hsiao Chia-chi, the task force's deputy convener, stated that helping local governments swiftly carry out reconstruction and rehabilitation is imperative.
Because the Tainan City Government (TCG) urgently needs financial support, Premier Chang San-cheng instructed that the central government first dispense NT$500 million (US$14.86 million) to the TCG to meet its reconstruction needs prior to processing its aid application via administrative procedures. The TCG stated that its losses from the earthquake were huge and the city government lacks funding for the recovery. Moreover, as the city just concluded its rescue effort, it is now beginning to take inventory of damages and has yet to come up with a full estimate.
Hsiao pointed out that reconstruction tasks have to begin immediately and recovery work must take into consideration efficiency and timeliness. He asked the Kaohsiung City Government (KCG) to submit its application for funding to the Executive Yuan in accordance with the procedure for subsidies for disaster damages. The KCG has estimated its earthquake-related losses amount to some NT$400 million (US$11.89 million) covering bridges, buildings, schools and historic sites.
According to Executive Yuan Spokesperson Sun Lih-chyun, the committee has decided that subsidies and relief measures for the Feb. 6 earthquake will at least take to the relief standards for Taiwan's September 21, 1999 earthquake.
The Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics stated that funding for Feb. 6 earthquake expenses will come from local disaster reserve funds, the Relief Disaster Foundation, allocation of centrally funded taxed revenues, and private donations.
The Ministry of the Interior pointed out that there are regulations for relevant reconstruction work, covering settlement, schooling, medical care and hospitalization, employment, psychological counseling, damaged architecture (such as housing, school facilities, public buildings, and historical monuments and sites), and rehabilitation of businesses as well as utilities such as water and electricity.