Mayor’s Remarks:
1. Sinopec’s conviction for national compensation has been affirmed in the 3rd trial by the Supreme Court; Sinopec is called for a speedy reconciliation with the residents.
(1) After ten years of a vexatious lawsuit on Sinopec’s Anshun factory dioxin pollution case, the conviction was finally affirmed by the Supreme Court on November 28. Sinopec shall compensate more than 400 victims for a total of NT $180 million. Victims who have suffered from disease during these past 36 years can finally get a hint of comfort. For the affected residents, the result of the third trial offers belated justice. The government is also very pleased with the result. I hereby call for Sinopec to make compensations as soon as possible and reconcile with the residents to soothe the victims of the pollution case.
(2) The local residents near Sinopec Anshun Factory believe that the government did not take full management responsibility, which resulted in the spread of pollution to nearby lands and caused harm to the residents, resulting in a high concentration of dioxin accumulating in the blood of residents. In addition to local residents’ proposal to Sinopec and the Ministry of Economic Affairs for national compensation, the government has strived to comfort the surrounding residents whose health and livelihood have been affected by pollution. Since the scandal was revealed, the Tainan City Government has spared no effort to allocate care subsidies from the Executive Yuan, the Ministry of Economics, and the Environmental Protection Administration. From 2005 to 2014, a total of NT $1.73 billion for two stages of the care project was obtained, and from 2015 to 2024, the fund for the third stage amounted to NT $1.44 billion. These funds are used for residential life care, healthcare, and medical subsidies, easing residents’ concerns about their health and wellbeing.
(3) The remediation process of this pollution case has been long and arduous. To prevent secondary pollution, the Tainan City Government has adopted strict 24-7 supervision on the rectification of Sinopec and has invited residents to participate in these rectification meetings. These positive actions have been recognized by local residents. We are grateful to the Environmental Protection Administration, the Public Health Bureau, Department of Social Welfare, and other relevant units for their hard work over the years. We also hope to continue our care and assistance to local residents in safeguarding their rights, maintaining their health, and protecting the environment.
2. Integrating medical resources and senior care, creating a senior-friendly and healthy environment.
(1) To meet the challenges that are expected to come with our super-aged society, we aim to create a healthy city that is compatible, accessible, and enhances active aging. We promote various elderly-friendly policies and look forward to combining the strength of the people to create a friendly environment that emphasizes healthy aging and active aging. Tainan City’s first publicly-owned senior citizen health village integrates medical resources and senior care, transforming the Tainan City Municipal Ren-ai Senior Citizen’s Home into a Tainan Lohas Evergreen Park, which is expected to be completed by the end of the year, providing better and more comprehensive care for senior citizens. I would like to thank Tainan Municipal An-Nan Hospital and the China Medical University team for their assistance.
(2) The Lohas Evergreen Park emphasizes the care model of integrating medical resources and senior care, providing peace of mind, convenience, and high-quality multi-level care for seniors. In addition to 56 comfortable homes suitable for senior citizens in good health, we have also planned to establish daycare centers for disabled seniors, sports parks, fitness rooms, community libraries, classrooms, and other facilities. With public-private partnership, we garner the human capital of the private sector and revitalize facilities and human resources, thereby achieving maximum benefits. With services such as senior care, health management, health-oriented leisure, and professional counseling, these policies create much anticipation.
(3) The relocation project for the Tainan Veterans Home in the East District has also begun. The base of the new Veterans Home is located in Pingshi Barracks, adjacent to the Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital Tainan Branch. The project is expected to be contracted out early next year and will be equipped with a pedestrian overpass and accessible facilities that directly connect to Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital Tainan Branch. The Sin-Lau Hospital in Madou District has established a retirement center building, which serves as a good example for the creation of a caring environment incorporated for medical care for seniors. I would like to thank medical teams in the Greater Tainan area for collaborating with us in creating a senior-friendly and healthy city.
Announcements
1. The Public Health Bureau’s report on the results of efforts to control influenza, Dengue fever, AIDS, and enterovirus (refer to written sources for details)
Decision: Approved for reference filing
Mayor’s Remarks:
(1) I would like to thank Director Chen for this report. Building a healthy city has been one of the key tasks of the municipal government over the past eight years. I would like to thank the successive directors over the past eight years for leading the Public Health Bureau team in enforcing health promotion measures and disease prevention and control. Concrete achievements have been made in disease prevention, such as the flu, Dengue fever, AIDS, enterovirus, and other diseases. Over the years, Tainan City has received numerous domestic and international awards that recognize our achievement as a healthy city. The average life expectancy of our citizens has even been extended by 1.33 years.
(2) The influenza vaccine was launched on October 15 this year. Due to incidental abnormal events affecting the vaccine supply schedule, the Public Health Bureau is required to take active measures in dispatching so as to continue vaccination services. The current influenza vaccine is especially targeted toward high-risk, chronically ill subjects aged 19-49 and children over the age of three to pre-school children. In addition, the current 0.25 ml dosage influenza vaccine is sufficient. The annual peak period of the flu is from New Year to Chinese New Year. I would like to take this opportunity to call for citizens to have their young children vaccinated as soon as possible to enhance their immunity.
(3) Dengue fever prevention and control in 2018 was centered on the three objectives of preventing imported cases, the participation of the people, and scientific epidemic prevention. With these three objectives in mind, the Bureau and concerned units cooperated to implement ten major prevention and control principles and sublevel tasks. So far, only one local case of Dengue fever has occurred. I would like to thank all parties involved for their efforts. At present, the temperature during daytime remains high and suitable for the growth of vector mosquitoes. We urge the public to strengthen the home environment regularly by “patrolling, emptying, cleaning, scrubbing” and by taking anti-mosquito measures. The Public Health Bureau is also required to pay attention to the positive ratio of mosquito eggs. If necessary, please ask the district offices to mobilize community volunteers to strengthen the elimination of dengue fever breeding sources.
(4) Enterovirus is a common infectious disease among young children, and it is also common in communities. To combat enterovirus, interdepartmental coordination is required. From the beginning of this year (2018) to the 47th week, 33 severe cases were diagnosed nationwide, and the main source of infection was echovirus type 11. The Public Health Bureau, Ministry of Education, and the Department of Social Welfare are required to continuously supervise schools and educational institutions. Prevention and notification operations must also be further enhanced. In addition, under the jurisdiction of the bureaus, the epidemic prevention and instructive education on children’s playground facilities should also be strengthened to protect the health and safety of young children.
2. The Tourism Bureau’s report on the implementation of the Tainan City Canal lighting construction project (refer to written sources for details)
Decision: Approved for reference filing
Mayor’s Remarks:
(1) I would like to thank Director Wang for this presentation. Rivers play an important role in the development of a city; they breed a city’s history and culture. The Tainan City Canal carries the memories of Tainan City and has beard witness to the resurgence of the waterfront. After overcoming various problems such as improving water quality and resolving obstruction caused by low bridges, the canal cruise ship that has been terminated for nearly 30 years has been re-launched in December 2017. The re-launch has driven coastal tourism and is about to enter the historic moment of its first anniversary after setting sail. I would like to thank Director Wang for pulling out all the stops and leading the Tourism Bureau team in continuous innovations, which has further strengthened the tourism industry in Tainan City.
(2) The canal cruise has achieved the goal of hydrophilic recreation and has excellent sightseeing potential. In recent years, the Tourism Bureau has actively invested in a canal lighting construction project, which is centered on combining the lights across the canal to create a 3.7-kilometer “golden watershed,” brightening the canal and lighting up Tainan. Light fixtures have been completed along a 2.5-kilometer stretch during the first phase of construction. Themed designs were employed for the canal’s old customs lighting demonstration site and phase one of the canal’s light watershed environmental facilities. For example, rosy clouds have been used as the theme for the Jincheng Neighborhood Activity Center, the imagery of sailing has been incorporated with Fisherman’s Wharf, the historical splendor of old Anping customs has been highlighted, and totems are projected on the square in front of the Wei-Yat Grand Hotel. These attractions now display different sceneries during the day and at night, adding to the beautiful night view of the canal.
(3) As can be seen from the presentation, the Tourism Bureau will continue to invest more than NT $50 million into implementing the canal lighting construction project. This project encompasses nighttime lighting, public art curation, a water dance plaza, and other landscape design, as well as the phase two project for “canal light watershed environmental facilities” and a project titled “Anping’s canal tales.” The project enhances the sightseeing highlights and recreation quality around the Tainan City Canal. I would like to thank the staff members of the Tourism Bureau for their continuous efforts. Let us strive to implement this project as scheduled and with expected quality. Please include this objective in the account.