Accused of blocking disaster relief funds, Ko Chih-en says DPP should stop spreading rumors

Ko Chih-en, a candidate for Kaohsiung mayor, has strongly denied accusations from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) that her party and the Kuomintang (KMT) legislative caucus are obstructing budget approvals for disaster relief efforts. Ko stated that the claims are false and urged the DPP to cease spreading misinformation.

Addressing the controversy, Ko explained that the total budget exceeds 3 trillion yuan and that disaster relief funds can be "shifted from less urgent to more urgent needs" as stipulated in the Disaster Prevention and Protection Act. She pointed to a 14.7 billion yuan flood control plan approved in March, local disaster preparedness funds available to city governments, and an additional 35.3 billion yuan in special allocation taxes from the central government that can be released as needed. Ko asserted that claims of insufficient funds preventing disaster relief are factually incorrect.

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The claims that the budget is insufficient, leading to an inability to provide disaster relief, are absolutely not true. Please stop spreading rumors.

Ko emphasized the critical juncture Kaohsiung faces, with the city bracing for more heavy rainfall and many residents still recovering from damaged homes. She called for unity and cooperation to rebuild the city, urging all parties to set aside electoral politics and prioritize the safety, well-being, and post-disaster recovery of Kaohsiung citizens. The goal, she stated, is to restore the city to normal operations as quickly as possible.

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We hope that all parties can temporarily set aside elections and political calculations, and put the safety, lives, and post-disaster recovery of Kaohsiung citizens first, so that the city can return to normal operations as soon as possible.