The Legislature has given the Cabinet the green light for an allocation of NT$420 billion (US$14 billion) towards its infrastructure plan. The funds will cover the plan’s second four-year period.
The Legislature agreed to the budget allocation Thursday in a vote, with 95 in favor, 5 against. When added to the NT$90 billion (US$3 billion) already allocated towards the plan, Thursday’s additional funding brings the plan’s total proposed budget to NT$510 billion (US$17 billion). This total will need to get separate legislative approval.
At a Cabinet meeting on Thursday, Premier Su Tseng-chang told government agencies to finish preparations for the final budget by mid-July. However, the Taiwan People’s Party, chaired by Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je, argued that the allocation should be postponed. The party says the budget for the plan’s initial four years was poorly implemented. The party also says there is no justification for handling the budget allocation during an extraordinary session of the Legislature.