Premier Lin Chuan visited the Central Emergency Operations Center for the third time today to monitor disaster losses and reconstruction efforts in the aftermath of the recent torrential rains. The center had already announced aid measures the previous day (Saturday), and the premier requested that government authorities streamline administrative procedures, and make it a priority to deliver prompt, practical post-disaster aid.
Taiwan was fortunate that efforts by central and local government personnel helped limit disaster damage and losses. On behalf of the government, the premier also expressed sympathy for those who suffered losses as a result of the storms, and pledged to mobilize all necessary resources to quickly reconstruct neighborhoods and help people resume their normal lives.
Addressing agricultural losses, the premier asked the Council of Agriculture to begin joint inspections of agricultural losses and activate aid mechanisms. Although the supply and demand situation and prices for agricultural products remained steady, the Executive Yuan's Department of Consumer Protection had already activated a price monitoring mechanism the previous day to prevent price gouging.
The central government has also set up a designated post-storm reconstruction project, and asked the Public Construction Commission to help local governments complete reports, inspections and funding approvals for emergency repairs as soon as possible, while the premier asked the Directorate General of Highways to work with local governments to quickly repair damaged roads, and take a practical approach to assess situations to create long-term, comprehensive plans that will help avoid future damage. The premier also directed the Ministry of Education complete an inventory of damage to educational facilities, draft repair and reconstruction plans, and complete those plans on-schedule and according to approved designs to ensure student safety.
This kind of severe weather with extremely heavy rainfall shows that climate change poses a serious threat to our everyday lives, so the government's Forward-looking Infrastructure Development Program has integrated low-impact development and flow release control concepts, linking water and land use strategies to make Taiwan's environment more resilient, the premier said.
He also noted that although the storm front had weakened, it was still affecting Taiwan, so government at all levels and people throughout the island should remain vigilant. Concurrent droughts and flooding may become the new normal, and he appealed to people from all walks of life to show humility when faced with natural forces, and learn from the natural world.