On the 6th day of the Lunar New Year holidays, Vice-President Wu Den-yih visited the Rinari community in Pingtung. Vice-President Wu not only wished everyone a happy new year but also personally distributed fortune bags to the tribe. The fortune bags symbolizing joy and happiness filled the entire community with a festive New Year atmosphere.  

Accompanied by Tseng Yung-chuan (deputy chairman of the Kuomintang Party), Lin Join-sane (Chairman of the Straits Exchange Foundation) and Chern Jenn-chuan (CEO of Morakot Post-Disaster Reconstruction Council), Vice-President Wu Den-yih arrived at the Evergreen Baihe Elementary School in the center of the tribal community at 5PM today (15th). The party received an enthusiastic reception from the local people including the mayors and councilors of Majia, Wutai and Sandimen townships, village chiefs and Chen Shih-tsung, the principal of Evergreen Baihe Elementary School. Vice-President Wu then attended a briefing given by Morakot Post-Disaster Reconstruction Council (MPDRC) CEO Chern Jenn-chuan on the reconstruction of the Rinari community, the lives of the local residents and current industrial developments. He also looked out over the building concept and surrounding landscape from the school. Vice-President Wu praised the permanent housing's comfortable surroundings and expressed how he impressed he was with the rich sense of indigenous culture throughout the community. 

 

The Rinari community was renowned as the "Provence" of Taiwan and the site was originally known as the Majia Farm. It was also one of the reconstruction sites developed during Vice-President Wu's time as the Premier and convener of the Reconstruction Council. A total of 483 houses were built at the site including 132 families from Majia Village in Majia Township (Paiwan tribe), 177 families from Haucha Village in Wutai Township (Rukai tribe) and 174 families from the Dashe Village in Sandimen Township (Paiwan tribe). The permanent housing site was ready for occupation on February 25, 2010. The community now sits on a picturesque hillside and the residents' efforts have given it a homely yet harmonious sense of cultural sophistication. 

 

After admiring the community's beautiful views, Vice-President Wu said that the swift pace of Morakot reconstruction efforts after three years compared to Japan's 311 Tohoku Earthquake has now attracted international attention. The government including the MPDRC as well as local governments will therefore continue to cooperate with elected representatives and the private sector to work hard for the local people. 

 

During his speech, Vice-President Wu conveyed the well-wishes of the President to everyone at the community. He then spoke about the President's correct policies and concern for disaster victims, the Special Act formulated by former Premier Liu as well as the special budget passed during his time as the Premier. Vice-President Wu said that he was particularly grateful to Wang Jin-pying, the president of the Legislative Yuan as well as all legislators from the ruling and opposition parties. Their full support allowed the Special Act and budget to be passed swiftly and reconstruction efforts to proceed smoothly. 

 

When the village chief used the PA system to notify the community that Vice-President Wu would be visiting this afternoon, many of the tribes people enthusiastically put on their traditional customs and went to the courtyard of the Evergreen Baihe Elementary School to welcome the guests. Everyone cheered when Vice-President Wu arrived and he also greeted the local tribal elders, youths and young children in return. After listening to the tribal introduction, Vice-President Wu wished every a happy lunar new year and personally handed out exquisite fortune bags that gave the community a festive lunar New Year atmosphere.