Deputy Mayor Chao’s Remarks:
1. The Taiwan Lantern Festival is scheduled to conclude on March 10th. Since its commencement, the festival has received widespread acclaim from various stakeholders. Senior officials from the central government and county and city governments have visited the festival in succession. The festival has surpassed the milestone of having 10 million visitors. We express our gratitude for the unwavering support from Tainan city government senior officials, counselors, directors-general of bureaus and departments, and colleagues from each bureau and department. Their contributions have not only earned public recognition for hosting this esteemed festival but also propelled Tainan's 400th-anniversary celebrations to unprecedented heights, as the lantern festival marks the first of a series of events. In light of the festival's impending closure, the Transportation Bureau is urged to assess the transportation diversion plan continually, while the Department of Information and International Relations, along with on-site staff, are encouraged to intensify efforts in promoting the use of public transportation. Furthermore, the relevant bureaus and departments, such as the Public Works Bureau and the Social Affairs Bureau, are requested to conduct site inspections and devise plans for post-festival tasks upon the removal of the lanterns. Additionally, the Tourism and Travel Bureau, Economic Development Bureau, and Agriculture Bureau are tasked with compiling the output value and additional benefits derived from the lantern festival. These findings will be announced in conjunction with the festival's accomplishments in the near future.
2. In recent times, traffic accidents in several counties and cities have raised significant public concern. The Police Bureau is urged to continue monitoring road safety data and developing relevant strategies. Similarly, the Transportation Bureau is urged to intensify public education on blind spots related to steering geometry while also continuously enhancing road markings and traffic signals. Through ongoing advancements in traffic engineering, we aim to reduce the frequency of traffic accidents and create a safer, more pedestrian-friendly environment.