Taiwan interior ministry to provide resilience subsidies

台灣內政部將提供防災補貼

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of the Interior has released subsidy guidelines to strengthen national security resilience in municipalities, with each disaster prevention collaboration center eligible for up to NT$1.1 million (US$34,000).

The guidelines follow the legislature's passage of the Special Act for National Security Resilience, which allocated NT$1.58 billion to establish such centers in all 368 townships and cities nationwide. The funding will also equip 7,748 villages with emergency disaster-response and life-sustaining equipment, per Liberty Times.

Local governments in New Taipei, Taichung, Changhua County, and Pingtung County said Sunday they will procure supplies based on the characteristics and needs of their jurisdictions while following the central government’s recommended items and budget.

The New Taipei City Fire Department said the first phase will involve discussions on procurement within the subsidy amount. The second phase, to be completed in 2027, will focus on purchasing emergency life-saving equipment for disaster response in villages and neighborhoods.

The Taichung Fire Department said all district offices have already established disaster prevention collaboration centers. Authorities are currently conducting an inventory of equipment at each center and will procure additional supplies based on local needs and central government funding levels. Training programs will also be held to ensure the centers can maintain basic operations during emergencies such as power outages and communication disruptions.

Shih Shun-jen (施順仁), chief of the Changhua County Fire Bureau, said disaster prevention collaboration centers were established throughout the county last year, and training began this year. He said the county will use the central government subsidy of NT$1.1 million per township office to purchase generators, lighting equipment, and drinking water supplies to ensure local command centers remain operational during large-scale disasters.

The Pingtung County Fire Department said there are currently 33 disaster prevention collaboration centers in the county. It said it would MOI guidelines for procuring emergency life-support equipment and supplies.

The MOI said disaster prevention collaboration centers will serve as a key link between government and private-sector efforts, integrating existing volunteer organizations and disaster prevention specialists into township, city, and district offices. The program aims to develop more resilient communities and assist township offices with evacuations and the distribution of supplies during disasters.