TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The township office in Penghu County's Baisha (白沙), an outlying island county of Taiwan, will distribute NT$10,000 (around US$316) in stimulus cash to each resident on Saturday (Jan. 24) and Sunday (Jan. 25). The initiative, which involves over 10,000 residents and exceeds NT$100 million (around US$3.16 million) in total, aims to boost local spending just before the Lunar New Year, Taiwan's most important holiday.
Staff at the Baisha Township Office counted the cash on Friday (Jan. 23) to ensure accuracy before preparing it for distribution to residents. The township office is the first among Penghu's six townships and cities to approve the additional funds, following the government's year-end cash distribution last year. Lan Chih-lan (藍志嵐), the township's finance section chief, emphasized the importance of proper documentation for the cash collection process to prevent errors.
Residents must present their ID cards and seals, as well as personal stamps commonly used in Taiwan for official transactions, to collect their cash. Those unable to collect on Saturday or Sunday can visit their village offices on workdays until April 30. If collecting cash on behalf of another person, they must provide the original recipient's ID and a household registration certificate. Without proper identification, the village head must verify the recipient's identity to prevent unauthorized distribution.
With the Lunar New Year approaching, the cash serves as a timely red envelope, a traditional gift of money in a red paper packet symbolizing good luck and prosperity in Chinese culture. The funds will help residents enhance their holiday celebrations, as many plan to use them for festive meals and new clothing for children.