Where Did the Annual Budget for the Vulnerable Go? Presidential Office Uses State Affairs Fund to Buy Mooncakes, Hsieh Han-ping Slams: Proves Opposition Cuts Were Justified

The State Affairs Fund of Taiwan's Presidential Office was recently reduced by NT$10 million and frozen by NT$20 million by the Legislative Yuan. The Presidential Office stated that this affected its original plan to pre-order mooncakes from 37 sheltered workshops, making procurement impossible due to the budget cuts. On the 20th, Presidential Secretary-General Pan Men-an invited representatives from sheltered workshops and public welfare groups to the Presidential Office to promote Mid-Autumn Festival gift boxes, urging the public to support products made by people with disabilities.

In response, media commentator Hsieh Han-ping criticized on Facebook: "Strange, where did the government's annual budget for supporting vulnerable groups go? Is the State Affairs Fund meant to be used this way?" He argued that this incident proves the DPP government misallocates budgets and that the opposition's cuts were justified.

The Legislative Yuan recently passed a proposal by KMT legislator Weng Hsiao-ling and others to reduce the Presidential Office's annual NT$30 million State Affairs Fund by NT$10 million and freeze NT$20 million. The Presidential Office stated this has impacted its traditional procurement of gift boxes and慰问 items for disadvantaged and social welfare groups. This year, it was forced to cancel orders for 15,000 Mid-Autumn gift boxes from 37 sheltered workshops.

Pan Men-an held a press conference today, stating that due to the NT$10 million reduction and NT$20 million freeze in the State Affairs Fund, the planned procurement of mooncakes from 37 sheltered workshops could not be fulfilled. He apologized sincerely to the affected disability groups and sheltered workshops, acknowledging the disappointment caused by the canceled orders.

Hsieh Han-ping responded, criticizing the DPP for lamenting the budget cuts that prevent them from buying mooncakes for vulnerable groups. "Where is the government's annual budget for supporting vulnerable groups? Is the State Affairs Fund supposed to be used this way?" he questioned. He argued that this shows the State Affairs Fund is over-allocated and that the government is trying every means to spend it, thanking the DPP for proving the Presidential Office's budget mismanagement and justifying the opposition's cuts.

Other commentators echoed similar views. Li Lai-hsi questioned the government's competence, Weng Hsiao-ling suggested President Lai should pay from his own pocket, and Huang Kuo-chang mocked Lai's monthly salary of NT$460,000, suggesting he buy the mooncakes himself.