Taipei City Construction Management Office

In the absence of Director of Construction and Management Office, Deputy Director Cheng-Huang Chen was elected.Vice Mayor Charles Lin, on behalf of City Mayor Wen Je Ko attended the mid-year business report, congratulated the incoming Director Chen and expressed his expectations for construction and management office. Vice Mayor Charles Lin, said that Director Chen has been in construction and management service for 35 years, a typical civil servant promoted from grassroots level which coincide with Major Ko’s idea of “establishment of the civil service system” – to ensure a proper career path and job security for grassroots colleagues from assigned work to promotion board. Lin also commended the effectiveness of communications in Construction Management Office in handling 226 cases of illegal constructions, highlighting the success of city inter-bureau coordination and courageous act in executing city policies. Lin further said: “Next, we have several important works that need Construction Management Office’s continuous effort. Such as this morning’s municipal meetings hosted by Mayor Ko has approved “Taipei City Construction Autonomous Regulations Management” amendment which stated in the future, facades of old buildings above a certain size must find professional services to perform diagnostic tests and report to the government, otherwise punished. In addition to city government’s effort to quickly submit this parliament, Construction Management Office should also be synchronized in preparation of the relevant laws and grant programs supporting repairs.Furthermore, Lin also mentioned last year Construction Management Office only planned for $4 million NTD budget to entrust architecture association to inspect and evaluate various levels of peeling condition and its corresponding solutions in building facades. This year, to continue with this effort, asking for secondary funding from the mayor is also an option when necessary. There is an consensus to expand funding to $32 million NTD to complete 600 different building inspections, 150 repairs. Construction Management Office should have a good and effective plan of implementation to ensure public safety for general citizens. Lin used illegal constructions as examples to quote mayor Wen Je Ko’s three handling principles: 1. there shall not be any illegal constructions in new licensed buildings. 2. Immediate removal of illegal constructions that are in progress. 3. Priority removal goes to constructions that obstruct public safety or traffic. Finally Lin stated that Construction Management Office should do more than preventing tiles from peeling off the buildings or removing illegal buildings. He expects to see more construction projects from Construction Management Office such as Green buildings and communities enhancement policies and programs. There is a “Energy Saving Feng-Shui Master Program” to save water and energy for communities, but last year, there was only $1.3 million NTD budget. This year 2016, to improve city government’s green policy and effort, there is $14.1 million set aside to promote projects on green roofs and exemplified green community. Lin said he hopes to see under new leadership of director, Construction Management Office can create most valuable city accomplishments for general public even with limited resources.