President Lai Ching-te Visits Chiayi Temple, Emphasizes Sharing Economic Dividends with the Public

CHIAYI (CNA) - President Lai Ching-te visited the Wangling Temple in Chiayi City this morning to present a plaque and pray for the nation. Addressing the crowd, he stated that Taiwan's strong economy and increased tax revenue should be shared with all citizens, announcing policies such as growth subsidies for children aged 0-18 and support for vulnerable groups, which were met with warm applause. Lai presented a plaque inscribed with 'Zhan En Guang Yan' to the temple, accompanied by DPP legislators Wang Mei-hui and Chen Kuan-ting, and was welcomed by hundreds of local residents. Due to the intense heat, an elderly man felt unwell; Lai, acting in his capacity as a physician, checked on him before he was taken to the hospital by paramedics. In his speech, Lai thanked the crowd for standing in the sun and joked that if anyone felt unwell, they should move to a cooler area, adding, 'If you need Dr. Lai to take a look, just raise your hand, no registration fee required,' which drew laughter. Lai emphasized that Taiwan's economy and stock market are performing well, and that the dividends should be shared. Starting next January, children aged 0-18 will receive 5,000 NTD per month, totaling 1.08 million NTD by age 18. Additionally, the government will implement six major welfare policies, including raising the old-age farmer allowance to 10,000 NTD per month and providing 5,000 NTD to national pension participants. Lai also noted that the minimum wage for laborers has reached 29,500 NTD and will soon exceed 30,000 NTD. Regarding civil servants, he stated that his administration and the previous Tsai Ing-wen administration have raised salaries four times, with another review scheduled for August. He also highlighted that 40-50% of the population is currently exempt from income tax.