Yunlin County launches six-part fertility support network with transport subsidies

During the Yulin County Magistrate election campaign, Zhang Jiajun officially unveiled a white paper titled the “5+1 Six-Pillar Childbearing Support Network” today, positioning it as a key highlight of his policy platform. This proposal is not only a response to Taiwan’s low birth rate crisis but also an exploration of the concrete role local governments can play within the national framework of childbearing policies. Since 2019, Taiwan’s total fertility rate has remained below 2.1, leading to an aging population structure. If local governments can provide comprehensive and implementable support, it will help improve willingness to have children and alleviate demographic burdens.

The “5+1” framework outlined in the white paper primarily covers pre-pregnancy preparation, prenatal checkups, postpartum care, parental leave, and childcare services, supplemented by a “Childbearing Transportation Subsidy.” In the pre-pregnancy stage, couples will be assisted with health examinations, nutritional counseling, and psychological guidance to ensure they have a solid health foundation before conception. For prenatal care, the plan involves collaborating with Yulin Hospital and obstetric clinics to provide free or low-cost prenatal checkups. During the postpartum care stage, services will include maternal and infant nursing, breastfeeding consultation, and family care support to ensure the health of newborns and mothers.

The “Childbearing Transportation Subsidy” is an innovative solution proposed by Zhang Jiajun to address the transportation costs currently faced by couples in Taiwan when seeking medical care or prenatal checkups. By subsidizing public transportation or providing dedicated shuttle services, the measure aims to reduce the financial burden on families. This is particularly effective for households in remote areas, as it significantly lowers the psychological and practical barriers caused by long distances. This initiative also aligns with the spirit of the national “Childbearing Support Program” to reduce medical costs and can serve as a model for how local and central policies can complement each other.

Regarding resource integration, Zhang Jiajun stated that he will utilize existing medical, social welfare, and educational resources within Yulin County to establish a cross-departmental collaboration platform. By coordinating with local health bureaus, social welfare bureaus, education bureaus, and private childcare institutions, the goal is to create a “one-stop” service chain covering everything from pre-pregnancy preparation to child-rearing. This approach will not only enhance service efficiency but also facilitate resource sharing at the local level, avoiding duplicate investments and service gaps.

From a political perspective, as a Kuomintang candidate, Zhang Jiajun’s focus on childbearing issues represents a reshaping of his “people-friendly” image. Childbearing policies resonate strongly with voters in Taiwan, especially against the backdrop of an aging population and labor shortages. Providing substantial childbearing support often garners widespread voter support. Meanwhile, his policies may contrast with the childbearing plans of the Democratic Progressive Party in major metropolitan areas such as Taipei and Taichung, offering voters a more comparable set of policy options.

In conclusion, the “5+1 Six-Pillar Childbearing Support Network” proposed by Zhang Jiajun is not only a policy innovation at the local level but also a practical attempt to address Taiwan’s demographic restructuring. If successfully implemented, it will provide a reference model for childbearing support in Yulin and across Taiwan, holding significant importance for slowing population aging and increasing the birth rate. The practical impact of this proposal will serve as a key indicator of whether local governments can achieve breakthroughs in childbearing policies in the future. (Source: Central News Agency)