TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Opposition Kuomintang (KMT, 國民黨) Legislator Chen Yu-jen (陳玉珍) clarified on Tuesday (Jan. 21) that the Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA, 數發部) budget cuts mainly target operational expense, which will not affect its disaster response capacity.
A recent earthquake in the Chiayi and Tainan regions has sparked debate over the proposal to cut the MODA budget. This ministry plays a crucial role in issuing Presidential Alerts (國家警報) after such disasters. Chen emphasized that the cuts do not affect communication-related expenses and assured the public that the government can access contingency funds during natural disasters.
The legislator explained that the reductions focus on administrative costs, utilities, and rent, not essential services. She noted that the central government's 2025 budget exceeds 2024 by over 10%. She also pointed out that media expenses are unnecessary since media outlets automatically report significant government policies.
Chen accused the government of using online misinformation campaigns, which she believes justifies the need to cut media-related expenses. She argued that freezing operational costs reflects public opinion and urged the government to heed this.
