No effort is being spared in advancing housing justice in Taiwan through farsighted policymaking and tailored regulatory reforms, according to Vice President Chen Chien-jen Oct. 31
 
Housing justice is a central plank in the government’s policy platform, Chen said. Expanding access to a high-quality and safe living environment goes hand in hand with the well-being of the people, he added.
 
Chen made the remarks while attending the presentation ceremony of the 20th National Golden Award for Architecture in Taipei City. Organized by locally based ROC National Enterprise Competitiveness Development Association, the award recognizes innovative design concepts, outstanding construction quality and sustainable construction practices.
 
According to the vice president, the public and private sectors are working closely to achieve housing justice while realizing the goal of sustainable national development. Tremendous progress has been made in this regard, Chen said, citing the inauguration of the National Urban and Regeneration Center Aug. 2 in Taipei.
 
Initially tasked with managing eight renewal projects, the center oversees large-scale initiatives involving idle properties and vacant land. Another objective is coordinating with central government agencies such as the Ministry of National Defense and state-owned enterprises like Taiwan Sugar Corp. in auditing underutilized assets and devising appropriate development strategies meeting Taiwan’s demographic needs.
 
Equally important, Chen said, are changes to safety assessment guidelines under the Statute for Expediting Reconstruction of Urban Unsafe and Old Buildings and prioritizing passage of revisions to the Urban Renewal Act. The updated regulations will expedite urban planning and refurbishment of debilitated structures for the benefit of the people, he added.
 
According to Chen, under the urban-rural development component of the Forward-looking Infrastructure Development Program, structural assessments of public buildings have been prioritized given Taiwan’s susceptibility to earthquakes and typhoons. Subsequent strengthening or rebuilding works will help spur the domestic construction sector and promote job creation, he said.
 
Passed by the Legislature in July 2017, the NT$840 billion (US$27.2 billion) eight-year FIDP underpins the government’s goal of engineering Taiwan’s economic revitalization and industrial transformation. It also includes projects spanning railway development, digital infrastructure, aquatic environment, food safety, green energy, boosting birth rates and child care facilities, and nurturing talent and employment. (SFC-E)
 
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