TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, 民進黨) legislator Lai Hui-yuan (賴惠員) warned on Wednesday (Dec. 24) that a budget impasse could disrupt the TPASS system, Taiwan's monthly pass for public transport, impacting commuters nationwide. Deputy Minister of Transportation Wu Sheng-yuan (伍勝園) acknowledged that without budget approval, funding for subsidies would cease in January, leaving commuters stranded.
Lai raised concerns during Taiwan's legislature, the Legislative Yuan's (立法院) session, where Accountant General Chen Shu-tzu (陳淑姿) assured that basic government operations would continue. However, Lai noted that department heads admitted TPASS subsidies, river management projects, and sports department functions face severe paralysis. With only seven working days left before the new fiscal year, Lai questioned the continuity of the TPASS program, which is crucial for the southern living circle, starting from Jan. 1.
Lai criticized the potential fallout, stating that from New Year's Day, commuters might face invalid monthly passes and inability to access stations, which she described as the removal of a vital lifeline for commuters. Lai called on opposition parties to abandon extreme measures and allow the budget proposal to proceed to substantive review. She stressed that water management, commuting subsidies, and sports development cannot wait for political disputes to resolve.