Taiwan Premier Pledges Support for Pingtung Flood Control Project

Taiwan's Premier Cho Jung-tai visited Pingtung County on August 25th to inspect the Dahu drainage improvement project in Linlu Township. The project aims to resolve persistent flooding issues along Provincial Highway 1, a critical transport artery. Heavy rainfall in June and August has overwhelmed the existing drainage capacity, causing significant waterlogging in the Linlu section of the highway and the Linzhi Village.

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We must fundamentally solve this problem. In response to extreme weather, we continue to invest in county-managed river governance in Pingtung, totaling NT$8.39 billion, plus NT$1.359 billion for the Dahu drainage project, for a total of about NT$9.7 billion.

The Pingtung County government has outlined a six-phase plan for the Dahu drainage system's renovation, with an estimated cost of NT$1.359 billion. County officials highlighted that recent rainfall exceeded original projections, necessitating these upgrades. Premier Cho affirmed the central government's commitment to supporting the project, emphasizing the importance of a systematic and comprehensive completion. He noted the government's increased investment in water management, from NT$80 billion over eight years previously to NT$100 billion over four years for county-managed river systems, with Pingtung receiving approximately NT$8.39 billion for river governance, plus the Dahu project funds.

Premier Cho also addressed smaller-scale, urgent engineering works, noting that Pingtung County has proposed projects totaling NT$299 million, with NT$160 million already approved. He urged for the prompt approval of the remaining plans, expressing hope for tangible results by next year. Pingtung County Magistrate Chou Chun-mi thanked the Premier for his support, acknowledging the challenges posed by recent extreme weather events and expressing confidence that with central government backing, Pingtung will become more resilient.

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Regarding the more detailed emergency engineering projects, Pingtung County has proposed plans worth about NT$299 million, of which NT$160 million has been approved. We hope the remaining plans can be completed and approved as soon as possible, and we hope to see results next year.

During the inspection, conducted amidst heavy rain, the Dahu drainage system showed a strong water flow, while Provincial Highway 1 remained clear of significant flooding. The Premier was accompanied by County Magistrate Chou Chun-mi and legislators Hsu Fu-ke and Su Ching-chuan. The visit underscores the government's focus on infrastructure improvements to mitigate the impacts of climate change and ensure public safety.

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The heavy rainfall in June and the continuous heavy rains this month have been challenging. We hope to respond to extreme weather through renovation and thank the Premier for supporting the plan. We also hope that the review of the six emergency engineering projects can be accelerated. With the support of the Executive Yuan, Pingtung will be more resilient in the face of extreme weather.