Mayor’s Remarks:
1. Now that summer has arrived, hot and rainy weather conditions have caused ovitrap indices to rise across various areas, indicating an imminent risk of a dengue fever outbreak. All bureaus and departments are urged to remain vigilant to prevent a recurrence of the 2023 dengue fever epidemic. The Environmental Protection Bureau and related departments must remain vigilant and should intensify environmental sanitation efforts, including the cleaning of containers where water accumulates. The Civil Affairs Bureau is also requested to notify district offices and village chiefs to remain alert and take proactive measures.
2. The first typhoon of the year may form near Hainan Island this Thursday, and a maritime typhoon warning may be issued. All bureaus and departments are requested to maintain a high level of readiness and complete the necessary preparations.
3. A gas leak occurred in Yongkang last week. Fortunately, no serious injuries resulted. However, relevant bureaus and departments are urged not to take the incident lightly and to strengthen pipeline inspections and maintenance. The Public Works Bureau and relevant departments are also requested to intensify the safety inspections of pipelines managed by private businesses.
4. According to the “Report on the Status of Public Parking Lot Fee Collection,” the Transportation Bureau is requested to expedite the implementation of parking fees in administrative districts where such fees have not yet been introduced.
Reports
1. The Water Resources Bureau presented a report titled “Construction Status and Floodwater Retention Capacity of Detention Basins in Tainan City” (refer to written sources for details).
Resolution: Approved for reference filing.
Mayor’s Comments:
(1) Tainan covers a vast area of approximately 2,200 square kilometers, which is 8.5 times the size of Taipei City. It also encompasses one-third of Taiwan’s flood-prone areas. As a result, water infrastructure is widely distributed across the city. For example, there are 165 regional drainage systems, more than any of the six special municipalities. When the capacity of regional drainage systems is exceeded, detention basins are needed to store excess water temporarily. To date, the Water Resources Bureau has constructed 23 detention basins with a total capacity of 6.33 million tons. Of these, basins accounting for 3.2 million tons were built in recent years. Over this period, the construction of detention basins has cost approximately NT$3 billion, with an additional NT$2.6 billion spent on pumping stations, totaling NT$5.6 billion. This amount is less than the NT$5.168 billion cut from this year’s general subsidy to the city, highlighting the heavy financial burden imposed on the city. Infrastructure projects require funding to proceed. Only by allocating funds effectively can we bring substantial benefits to the public.
(2) The Water Resources Bureau is requested to continue advancing the construction of detention basins. The necessity of constructing detention basins, as well as the availability of land for them, must be carefully considered. In urban areas, land for detention basins is particularly scarce and valuable. Therefore, the Water Resources Bureau is urged to make optimal use of available space, maximizing excavation volume to ensure that the basins effectively mitigate flood peaks and short-duration heavy rainfall. The city’s total flood detention capacity is approximately 11 million tons. Approximately 5 million cubic meters of detention basin capacity is managed by various bureaus. Relevant bureaus and departments are requested to manage these resources properly, ensuring that they function effectively during flood seasons, typhoons, and periods of heavy rainfall to protect the lives and property of the public. Additionally, all relevant bureaus and departments should ensure that drainage systems remain unobstructed under normal conditions to avoid adverse impacts on surrounding communities.
2. The Agriculture Bureau presented a report titled “Tainan Mango and Pineapple Production and Marketing Project and Mango Festival Series of Events” (refer to written sources for details).
Resolution: Approved for reference filing.
Mayor’s Comments:
(1) Due to unfavorable weather conditions this year, the mango fruiting rate has been low. Following an inspection by the Ministry of Agriculture, Tainan was designated as an area eligible for cash assistance. As a result, mango production has declined, and prices are expected to rise. Similarly, reduced pineapple yields have led to lower trading volumes and higher prices. This poses a significant challenge for marketing efforts. Tainan ranks first nationwide in mango production and second in pineapple production. Therefore, regardless of whether there is a bumper harvest or a poor yield, we must proactively expand marketing channels to prevent future oversupply issues. At the same time, this is an opportunity to promote Tainan’s premium agricultural specialty products both domestically and internationally, paving the way for more resilient sales channels in the future.
(2) The Tainan International Mango Festival is scheduled to open on June 21. The City Government will invite international guests to attend. The Department of Information and International Relations is requested to manage foreign guest reception, the Agriculture Bureau is to oversee event logistics, and the Tourism and Travel Bureau, along with relevant departments, should enhance promotional efforts to increase awareness of the event among domestic and international friends. This will significantly support the marketing of Tainan’s agricultural specialty products.