DPP's 'Taiwan Good Life' Campaign Launches in Pingtung, Advancing High-Tech, Agriculture, and Transportation

(Central News Agency reporter Huang Yu-ching, Pingtung County, June 13) The Democratic Progressive Party's 'Taiwan Good Life' policy briefing was held today in Pingtung, led by National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Minister Wu Cheng-wen and other officials. The central government announced comprehensive support for Pingtung's development, covering the Pingtung Science Park and rocket launch base, farmer welfare and agricultural-fishery infrastructure, and transportation projects including the southern extension of the high-speed rail.

The briefing began with Minister Wu Cheng-wen, followed by reports from Minister of Agriculture Chen Chun-chi, Minister of Transportation Chen Shih-kai, and Pingtung County Magistrate Chou Chun-mi. Presidential Office Secretary-General Pan Men-an, DPP legislators Hsu Fu-kuei and Wu Li-hua, and others attended the event.

Wu Cheng-wen highlighted two key areas for high-tech industry development in Pingtung. Regarding the science park corridor, he noted the groundbreaking yesterday of the Pingtung Science Park Semiconductor Supply Chain Special Zone, planned with TSMC as the lead. This will link to the high-tech corridor and realize the vision of the Greater Southern New Silicon Valley, aiming to retain local talent in Pingtung.

On the rocket launch initiative, Wu said the short-term scientific sounding rocket launch site is located in Xuhai Village, Mudan Township, officially operational since January 2022. The national launch site has been selected in Jiupeng Village, Manzhou Township, with completion and operation expected by 2032. Future plans include promoting tourism and building a space museum to continuously generate job opportunities.

Chen Chun-chi stated that Pingtung is a major agricultural and fisheries county, ranking first nationwide in banana, pineapple, and grouper production. In recent years, climate change has posed significant challenges, with natural disaster relief payments for agriculture exceeding NT$1.07 billion over the past two years, while actual agricultural losses were five times higher. To support farmers, the central government has increased relief from 20% to 25% of production costs and announced a second round of additional subsidies for certain crops.

To enhance agricultural and fisheries resilience, cold chain infrastructure is being established. Taiwan's first integrated export packaging facility is under construction in Chaozhou, a fisheries cold chain processing plant in Fangliao, and a seafood processing and cold chain logistics center has been set up at Donggang-Yanpu Fishing Port.

Chen Shih-kai emphasized that the central government continues to upgrade Pingtung's transportation infrastructure with a secured budget of NT$70 billion. The first phase of the Gaoping Second Expressway will open for bidding in July, the Pinan Expressway is entering the second stage of environmental assessment, and planning is underway for the southern extension of the high-speed rail and the extension of the Kaohsiung MRT to Lin Yuan, Donggang, and Pingtung.

Chou Chun-mi reported that since taking office, she has promoted upgrades to medical capacity across the county, transforming the Liuchiu Health Center into a small comprehensive hospital. For comprehensive age-care support, the 'Parenting Trilogy' program has been launched, including postnatal care subsidies and nutritional allowances for infants under one year old. In tourism development, projects include the Hengchun Chuhuo Geological Park and the Zhutian Dunwu Station. Three major cultural facilities are also under construction: the Pingtung County Art Museum, the Wangchuan Cultural Hall, and the Hengchun Cultural Center.

For urban functionality, three major parks are being built: Balu Park in Jiuru, the Xinpi Comprehensive Recreation Park, and Wandan Forest Park. To address extreme climate conditions, three major detention basins have been established: the Yanpu Daren Detention Basin, Kanding Detention Basin, and Changzhi Niouchou Creek Drainage Detention Basin. The goal is to enhance urban competitiveness and transform Pingtung into a 'city of hope.' (Editor: Chen Jen-hua) 1150613