Taitung County Government Pledges Funding for New Funeral Hall in Chenggong Township

Central News Agency, Taitung, May 22. Due to a long-term lack of suitable funeral facilities in three townships on the east coast of Taitung, local residents have been advocating for the construction of a funeral park to ensure their loved ones can complete their final journey with dignity. The Taitung County Government promised today to subsidize the construction of a funeral hall in Chenggong Township. During a general interpellation session at the Taitung County Council today, independent councilor Hsu Chin-jung pointed out that the townships of Donghe, Chenggong, and Changbin have long lacked appropriate funeral venues. He urged the county government to assist in the construction of a funeral park and inquired about the current progress and plans. Taitung County Magistrate Rao Ching-ling replied that there is indeed a demand for a funeral hall on the east coast. Once completed, it will not only meet local needs for coffin storage and public funeral ceremonies but also serve residents in Changbin and even northern Hualien. Lu Hsieh-chang, Secretary-General of the Taitung County Government, added that the initial design proposed by the Chenggong Township Office was too large and might not meet actual needs. After coordination with the county government, it was suggested to plan the hall with different specifications and adjust the unit price per ping, with an estimated total cost of NT$40 million. Lu stated that considering the Chenggong Township Office has its own surplus, the county government's subsidy is expected to exceed half of the total cost. Regarding progress, he noted that the faster the township office proceeds with the bidding, the faster the county's funds and assistance will be available, expressing hope for joint efforts to complete this public livelihood project.