TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) urged legislators Tuesday (Nov. 18) to support NT$27 billion (around US$871 million) special budget for Hualien County post-disaster reconstruction. The proposal addresses Typhoon Ragasa (樺加沙) aftermath that killed at least 19 people when Matai'an Creek (馬太鞍溪) barrier lake overflowed Sept. 23.
Premier Cho told the Legislative Yuan (立法院), Taiwan's parliament, the aforesaid budget covers expenditures from Nov. 11 until March 31, 2027. Major allocations include NT$9.1 billion (around US$294 million) to Economic Affairs Ministry (經濟部), NT$4.4 billion (around US$142 million) to Transportation Ministry (交通部). The budget reserves NT$1.5 billion (around US$48 million) for contingencies with projects extending until 2030.
The special budget outlines 10 reconstruction projects including NT$1.4 billion (around US$45 million) for Matai'an Creek (馬太鞍溪) landslide lake management and NT$2.7 billion (around US$87 million) for agricultural recovery. Premier Cho appealed to lawmakers for urgent passage to help disaster victims rebuild homes and restore infrastructure.
Typhoon Ragasa destroyed Matai'an Creek Bridge (馬太鞍溪橋) and flooded Hualien County's Guangfu Township (光復鄉). The Executive Yuan (行政院), Taiwan's cabinet, responded by introducing revised reconstruction legislation in July, adding NT$25 billion (around US$806 million) supplementary budget.
