Taipei: The Executive Yuan has given the green light to a NT$27 billion (US$870 million) special budget aimed at rebuilding areas impacted by the Matai’an Creek barrier lake disaster in Hualien County. This funding will be directed towards the comprehensive management of Matai’an Creek and the Hualien River, as well as emergency repairs and reconstruction efforts, including the Matai’an Creek bridge. Additional resources will be allocated for monitoring and responding to the barrier lake, sediment-control initiatives, and temporary housing for those affected by the disaster.
According to Focus Taiwan, the initial recovery plans earmarked NT$25 billion for the affected area. However, the Legislative Yuan later passed a special act dedicated to post-disaster reconstruction, raising the allocation to NT$30 billion. The approved NT$27 billion budget will now be submitted to the Legislative Yuan for further review. Additionally, a reserve of NT$3 billion has been set aside for any necessary adjustments as the recovery progresses.
A significant portion of the budget, NT$9.1 billion, is designated for the Ministry of Economic Affairs. These funds will be utilized for systemic river management, enhancing the disaster resilience of the power distribution network, repairing damaged water-supply equipment, and providing water and electricity fee reductions for affected households. Additionally, loan-interest subsidies will be available for businesses in the disaster zones.
Moreover, over NT$4 billion has been allocated to the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Ministry of Environment. Their responsibilities include repairing and rebuilding the Matai’an Creek bridge, subsidizing road and bridge repairs, managing compensation for destroyed vehicles, and overseeing sediment-control work for the barrier lake. They will also focus on land acquisition, reforestation, agricultural environment reconstruction, fallowing measures, and waste management.
The Ministry of the Interior will manage NT$2.8 billion to assist local governments in clearing stormwater and wastewater systems, repairing urban roads and public facilities, issuing home-recovery relief funds, and providing temporary housing solutions.
An additional NT$600 million will be overseen by the Executive Yuan, covering loans and interest subsidies for indigenous communities, public facility reconstruction, and disaster-recovery coordination by the Public Construction Commission. The Ministry of Health and Welfare will administer NT$100 million for the reconstruction of damaged medical buildings and restoration of medical equipment. The entire budget will be financed through borrowing.