Taiwan Extends Public Transport Fare Freeze to 6 Months, Increases Taxi Subsidies

(CNA, Taipei, June 8, by Lai Yu-chen) With the conflict in the Middle East ongoing, Premier Cho Jung-tai, while presiding over the "Project Meeting on Livelihood Stability in Response to the Middle East Conflict" today, directed the government to continue implementing transportation price stabilization measures. These include extending the freeze on public transport fares to six months and increasing the fuel subsidy for taxis to NT$15,000.

As the conflict in the Middle East continues, Cho chaired the meeting today to extend related price stabilization measures.

In terms of transportation, the public transport fare freeze was initially announced for three months, and the taxi fuel subsidy was NT$6,000. During the meeting, Cho instructed that the government would continue to promote stable transportation prices, extending the public transport fare freeze to six months to maintain overall stability compared to international or neighboring Asian countries. Furthermore, the taxi fuel subsidy will be increased to NT$15,000.

Cho stated that the government hopes to reduce the burden on both operators and the public by subsidizing transport businesses such as highway buses, taxis, domestic shipping, and domestic aviation.

The Ministry of Transportation and Communications' taxi fuel subsidy program targets approximately 90,000 legally registered taxis nationwide (excluding pure electric vehicles). Drivers can apply from May 20 until the end of August, and the subsidy can be used until December 31 of this year. A discount of NT$5 per liter will be applied during refueling. The original maximum subsidy of NT$6,000 will subsequently be increased to NT$15,000. (Editor: Lin Ke-lun) 1150608