LDP Proposes Kumamoto Restoration Measures to PM Takaichi

Tokyo, Aug. 27 (Jiji Press)–A group of lawmakers from Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party has proposed a set of measures to help reconstruct the southwestern prefecture of Kumamoto, hit hard by a powerful earthquake about a month ago. Handing the proposal to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in a meeting held at the prime minister’s office in Tokyo on Wednesday, LDP policy chief Takayuki Kobayashi, acting head of the group, asked the government to provide Kumamoto with financial aid on par with that provided when the prefecture was heavily damaged by major quakes in April 2016. He also called for the establishment of a postdisaster reconstruction fund using part of the financial resources pooled for special tax grants from the central to local governments. In response, Takaichi said she will “fully consider” the requested reconstruction fund, according to a participant of the meeting. The 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck July 28, measuring 7, the highest level on Japan’s seismic intensity scale, in some municipalities in Kumamoto. Takaichi said new problems have emerged, such as difficulties assembling cardboard beds sent to evacuation centers. As a new government agency for disaster management is slated to be established as early as in November, she said, “We will work on disaster response based on the lessons learned from the latest quake.” The LDP group’s proposal consists of three pillars–protecting the lives of evacuees from secondary damage and the severe summer heat, reconstructing livelihoods and infrastructure, and reinforcing financial and personnel support for municipalities affected by the temblor. Tetsushi Sakamoto, chairman of the Budget Committee of the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the Diet, Japan’s parliament, told reporters, “The second phase of restoration, including the reconstruction of industries, schools, and medical and social welfare services, is set to start.” Sakamoto, who has been elected to the Lower House from a constituency in Kumamoto, also stressed the importance of dealing with the issue of multiple debts caused by emergency events, such as earthquakes and heavy rain, occurring successively. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]