At Thursday's Cabinet meeting, Premier Cho Jung-tai received briefings from the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of the Interior on systematic water management. Despite the extremely torrential rain experienced during Typhoon Gaemi in July, which caused severe flooding in parts of southern Taiwan, the scope and extent of the damage has been reduced by the government's promotion of flood control projects over successive years and the Forward-looking Infrastructure Development Program, the premier said. This focus on water management, the result of close cooperation between the central and local governments, has begun to show its effect.
Regarding ongoing post-typhoon recovery work, Premier Cho instructed government officials to continue keeping abreast of the damage and disaster conditions in each county and city, and to maintain tight control over the implementation and management of all recovery projects and subsidy programs. Furthermore, to adapt to the impacts of intensifying extreme weather events, he said ministries and agencies must strengthen cooperation, examine and propose measures for systematic water management, and assist local water management efforts, so as to reduce the damage and suffering caused by floods, and create a safer, more sustainable homeland for the people of Taiwan.