Seeking Ways to Increase Contingency Funds in Cooperation with the Opposition During the Supplementary Budget
Kwon Youngse to Deliver Ruling Party Proposals to Central Disaster Headquarters in the Afternoon
The People Power Party's Special Committee on Wildfire Disaster Response requested the government on the 27th to expand the designation of special disaster areas and to provide advance payment of special disaster grants related to the large-scale wildfires in the Yeongnam region.
At the first meeting held at the National Assembly on the same day, the Wildfire Special Committee, chaired by Lee Man-hee, announced in a briefing that in addition to the areas already declared special disaster zones?Uiseong in Gyeongbuk, Sancheong and Hadong in Gyeongnam, and Ulju in Ulsan?they demanded the designation of additional areas affected by the wildfires as special disaster zones and the advance payment of special disaster grants to enable rapid execution at the disaster sites.
Rep. Lee stated, "Considering the wildfire's spread, special disaster areas should be significantly expanded to include Andong, Yeongyang, Cheongsong, and others," adding, "We will actively propose the expansion to the government." Currently, the wildfires have spread to Andong, Yeongdeok, Cheongsong, Yeongyang in Gyeongbuk, and Geochang in Gyeongnam.
Regarding the advance payment of the special disaster safety grants, he said, "I understand the government has about 500 billion won in special disaster grants. This is the budget that can be executed most quickly on-site," and added, "Efforts must be made to ensure that practical support is felt directly."
He also urged that the disaster response contingency fund be increased through a supplementary budget (Chugyeong) appropriation. Rep. Lee said, "If the budget had passed as planned by the government, 4.8 trillion won in contingency funds would have been secured, but it was cut down to about 1.6 trillion won. A large amount of contingency funds will likely be needed for disaster response. If a supplementary budget is enacted, I will work with the opposition to find ways to significantly increase the contingency funds," he emphasized.
Regarding the scale of the contingency fund supplementary budget, he explained, "I think the more, the better, but we must consider the national fiscal situation," adding, "I will consult with the party's Policy Committee and floor leader."
The Wildfire Special Committee also plans to propose to the party leadership that each party member donate at least 1 million won for recovery efforts. Earlier, Kwon Young-se, the People Power Party Emergency Response Committee Chairman, stated at the emergency committee meeting that "relief supplies have been urgently sent to the disaster victims, and fundraising at the party level will be expedited."
Regarding this, Rep. Lee said, "Although we have not yet obtained consent from all members, the committee members agree that we must share the pain with the disaster victims," adding, "It would be good if we set an example and provide strength to the people."
The committee also plans to discuss with the government issues such as increasing penalties for arson, securing large helicopters, the burden of helicopter rental costs on local governments, and the fatigue of firefighting personnel.
Floor Leader Kwon Seong-dong, at the Wildfire Special Committee meeting, stated, "(Regarding the cost of renting firefighting helicopters) local governments are requesting national subsidies, but the Ministry of Strategy and Finance keeps repeating that since the local governments requested it, they should bear the costs themselves. The Ministry is imposing an unbearable burden on local governments whose finances have deteriorated due to managing forests as public goods," urging improvements.
The committee plans to visit the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters at the Government Seoul Office Building in the afternoon with Emergency Response Committee Chairman Kwon Young-se to deliver their proposals to the government.
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