KAOHSIUNG: Permanent housing under construction for Typhoon Morakot-displaced victims will be a model for post-disaster housing reconstruction around the world, "cabinet" Secretary-General Lin Jhong-shen predicted yesterday. Lin spoke at a briefing at a military barracks in Kaohsiung County's Jiahsien township on post-disaster reconstruction and resettlement.

He said the government has selected the Wulipu area of the township's Siaolin village and a plot of land belonging to the state-owned Taiwan Sugar Corp (Taisugar) adjacent to the Shanlin Junior High School as the locations for the first batch of permanent houses.

Lin said that half of the 59-hectare Taisugar plot will be used to build public facilities and that the community will be an "upscale and well-equipped residential neighborhood" once construction is completed.

Noting that 33 out of 64 aboriginal tribal settlements in the county have been designated as unsafe by construction experts, Lin said the government will allocate housing to residents of these dangerous settlements if they agree to relocate.

He added that the relocation plan will take into account the way of life, economic development, religion and activities in the various tribal settlements and will not be implemented until after negotiations with the residents themselves.

The Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation, which has received donations from 52 countries for the program, is in charge of most of the construction work.

The government is responsible for land expropriation, joint efforts that will be an example of cooperation between the government and the civic sector, Lin added.

The houses will be built using imported light-gauge steel materials generally used for constructing five-star hotels and libraries elsewhere in the world. The materials are heat- and sound-proof, according to Lin.

Under the government plan, some 2,100 of the houses are expected to be built on the plot, of which 400 will be built in the first stage. About 310 units will be built in Wulipu.

China Daily/CNA

(HK Edition 10/01/2009 page2)