President Tsai Ing-wen Jan. 18 praised Taiwan’s nongovernmental organizations for contributing to public and private sector COVID-19 management efforts and helping promote well-being of the underprivileged.
Local NGOs have played a key role in disseminating the government’s disease-fighting measures to the public over the past year, especially among disadvantaged groups, the president said.
Such entities are unsung heroes in upholding Taiwan’s social welfare system, Tsai said. Their endeavors to help those in need during these challenging times are sincerely appreciated by the government and people, she added.
Tsai made the remarks during a banquet organized by Taipei City-based Taiwan Social Welfare League in the capital for representatives from local NGOs.
According to the president, expanding the reach of Taiwan’s welfare network is a top priority to the government, as evidenced by the steady rise in funding earmarked for projects serving the country’s most vulnerable.
Under the National Long-Term Care Plan 2.0 introduced by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in 2017, an increasing number of senior citizens and individuals with special needs have become eligible for services at day care centers set up by the government in communities countrywide.
Citing the second national report issued by the MOHW in December last year on the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Tsai said a total of 423 laws and administrative measures have been modified to bring the relevant regulations in line with global standards.
These initiatives are just part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the country’s public welfare policymaking, Tsai said, pledging to continue cooperating with civil groups to ensure everyone is covered by Taiwan’s social safety net. (SFC-E)
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