Gov’t decides on first phase of reshuffling
Written by Writer on Friday, October 10th, 2008
Gov’t decides on first phase of reshuffling
CNA
TAIPEI, Taiwan –– The Executive Yuan will give priority to the establishment of a Ministry of Culture and Tourism, or will at least complete its organic legislation by May 20 next year, along with that of another five government units in the coming four years, as the first phase of a plan to streamline the government administration, an official said yesterday.
The reform plan, proposed by the former administration, was also part of President Ma Ying-jeou’s campaign platform when he was running for president in the March election, according to Jiang Yi-huah, chairman of the Research, Development and Evaluation Commission.
To better cope with contemporary social changes, the government plans to restructure its executive branch by cutting the number of agencies under the Executive Yuan from 39 to 26, which would include 14 ministries,seven councils, and another five independent organizations.
Besides the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, five other units to be established in the first phase of the plan are: the agriculture ministry, marine affairs ministry, environmental resources ministry, social welfare ministry, and gender equality commission.
Jiang said the plan’s preparation committee, consisting of government officials and experts in management, decided at a meeting Wednesday that the plan will be carried out in different phases.
The meeting was convened by Vice Premier Chiu Cheng-hsiung, Jiang added.
More measures will be discussed in future meetings of the joint committee, including the number of government personnel which each of the new government units will have, Jiang said.
He added that the joint committee will hold a meeting every month as the initial reform requires intensive coordination among government organizations.
To strive for faster legislation, Jiang’s commission will propose a draft amendment to allow the administrative overhaul to happen, Jiang said.
He said the new amendment will not be very different from the previous one, and the government will hold public hearings and seminars in the future to introduce measures to the public on how the reform plan will be implemented.
