Taichung County, Sept. 20 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian on Wednesday revisited townships of the central county of Taichung, one of the hardest-hit areas in the deadly magnitude 7.3 earthquake that struck last Sept. 21.
Chen, accompanied by Premier Tang Fei, witnessed a groundbreaking ceremony in Tahli City, where a model residential community will be constructed on a tract of land that was damaged by the Sept. 21 quake.
Citing that only about NT$30 billion out of the NT$100 billion that the nation's financial institutions have prepared as loans for home owners affected by the earthquake has been lent out, Chen urged the related agencies to further lower the thresholds for loan seekers to enable people whose homes were damaged or destroyed in the quake build new homes.
The President then proceeded to Wufeng Township to inspect the Wushi Bridge reconstruction project. The bridge is part of one of the key roads in Taichung County connecting Wufeng and Tsaotun. The bridge collapsed during the killer jolt.
Chen expressed the hope that the bridge could be reconstructed ahead of schedule given that construction quality and structure security factors can be secured. If related agencies and workers can manage it, they will be awarded accordingly, Chen noted.
At noon, Chen and Tang met for lunch with a group of people who survived the devastating earthquake nearly a year ago. Those who attended the lunch included children who were orphaned, parents who lost their spouse, and senior citizens who now live alone because of the earthquake.
Chen offered prayers wishing for peace, rebirth, hope, and courage for the people in the earthquake-stricken area so that they can once again rise up out of the ruins of last year's devastation.