[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Hampyeong-gun, Jeonnam Province, plans to mobilize all administrative resources to support local residents struggling due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.
On the 23rd, Hampyeong-gun held a "COVID-19 Support and Response Status Report Meeting" chaired by Acting County Governor Na Yunsu to urgently review the response status of each department and public support measures by sector related to the current situation.
In particular, broad discussions were held on support measures for small business owners and small and medium-sized enterprises, who have been the most severely affected by this emergency situation.
Earlier, the county upgraded the emergency quarantine task force centered on the public health center to the Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters and strengthened quarantine measures at major local facilities.
Disinfection and sterilization were conducted twice daily at two local terminals and traditional markets, and thermal imaging cameras were separately installed at Hampyeong Public Terminal, the county office, and the livestock market.
Monthly disinfection and sterilization twice a month are also being carried out for religious facilities such as small local churches, which have recently experienced repeated cluster infections, nursing hospitals for the elderly, and all 512 villages in 273 administrative districts in the region.
Multi-use facilities such as the Natural Ecology Park, art museum, and senior centers have been temporarily closed.
Four major public support projects are also progressing smoothly and are scheduled to be completed by the end of this month.
Since February, the county has invested 1.2 billion KRW in supporting interest payments on loans for about 40 companies, providing up to 30 million KRW per company.
Regarding agricultural loan projects, repayment of approximately 700 million KRW has been deferred for one year each.
In addition, 15 projects are currently underway or planned, including ▲mask support for vulnerable groups (90,000 masks) ▲alternative food support for elderly living alone ▲public job income compensation (70-100%) ▲emergency childcare services for children ▲emergency meal support for children.
The most urgent measures to revitalize the local economy are also accelerating.
From this month until May, usage fees for 55 businesses located in local traditional markets will be temporarily waived in full.
For companies exporting to China and those importing or producing Chinese parts, property tax will be partially reduced for companies whose sales have decreased by more than 20% compared to the previous year.
The discount rate for purchasing local currency (Hampyeong Sarang Gift Certificates) has been increased from 5% to 10% until the 14th of next month, and the originally planned biannual payment of the "Farmers and Fishermen Public Interest Allowance" will be paid in full in local currency next month considering the sluggish local economy.
Additionally, measures such as ▲property tax reduction for benevolent landlords ▲extension of local tax payment deadlines and collection deferrals ▲postponement of tax audits (after June) ▲sales of local agricultural, livestock, and marine products at "Namdo Market" ▲exemption of agricultural machinery rental fees (one day) from April to June have recently been confirmed for implementation through related meetings.
Acting County Governor Na Yunsu of Hampyeong-gun said, "We are actively negotiating with local financial institutions to defer principal repayments on corporate loans," adding, "We will continue to prepare practical measures to help local residents and the local economy so that the region can normalize as soon as possible."
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