DPP Councilor Urges Expansion of Hsinchu's 'Good Pregnancy Taxi' Program; City to Study Feasibility

(Central News Agency reporter Lu Gang-jun, Hsinchu City, 3rd) DPP Hsinchu City Councilor Liu Kang-yen said today that he suggests the city's 'Good Pregnancy Taxi' policy could be improved by relaxing the usage period, expanding the scope, and increasing funding, as well as allowing fathers and other family caregivers to use it flexibly. The Hsinchu City Government stated it will compile usage data and needs, and incorporate the opinions into an evaluation to study feasibility.

The Hsinchu City Council held departmental business inquiries this morning. Liu Kang-yen pointed out that he advocates increasing the subsidy for the Good Pregnancy Taxi from NT$6,000 to NT$12,000, and simultaneously relaxing the usage period to one year postpartum.

Liu said the current regulation limits pick-up and drop-off points to medical institutions. He suggested expanding this to include parent-child centers, parks, or department stores, which could help alleviate postpartum mothers' physical and mental stress. Furthermore, he noted that fathers and other family caregivers are important partners in childcare, so the eligibility should be flexibly expanded to include co-caregivers to comprehensively create a more suitable and friendly environment for childbirth and child-rearing.

In response, the Hsinchu City Government's Department of Social Welfare stated in a written statement that starting April 8 this year, it integrated the Hsinchu Pass App to provide online application and digital services. It also plans to study relaxing the usage period in the second half of this year to fulfill the policy's intention of supporting women of childbearing age.

Regarding suggestions for extending the usage period, increasing the subsidy amount, and expanding the scope of use and eligible users, the Department of Social Welfare indicated that, under stable fiscal conditions, it will compile current usage data and needs, incorporate the opinions into an evaluation, and study feasibility. (Editor: Lin Shu-hui) 1150603