Longde East Road Nearing Completion: Mayor Chen Chi-mai Tasks Responsible Units to Plan Overall Traffic and Landscaping, Enhance Traffic Route Promotion Efforts

[Kaohsiung News] On June 25, Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai presided over a municipal administrative meeting, which began with the swearing-in of Wu Li-sen as Director-General of the Education Bureau, Wu Chia-chang as Director-General of the Mass Rapid Transit Bureau, and Chen Po-chou as Chairman of the Research, Development, and Evaluation Commission. Mayor Chen then presented awards to exemplary civil servants of the city government. Following this, he received the Land Administration Bureau's "Progress Report on the Longde East Road Project" and the Police Department's report on the "Summer Vacation Youth Protection - Youth Program." Additionally, Mayor Chen instructed all departments and units to strengthen public awareness campaigns to prevent job fraud schemes targeting students seeking employment during summer break.

During the meeting, the Land Administration Bureau presented the "Progress Report on the Longde East Road Project." According to the report, the 107th Phase of the city land readjustment project includes a road approximately 350 meters in length and 26 meters in width. The project has completed the installation of box culverts, sewage systems, side ditches, pipelines, landscaping, and partial road surfacing within the area. The construction of sidewalks and road surface paving is also ongoing. The project is expected to be completed by the end of June 2024, connecting Longde New Road through Longde East Road to Minzu 1st Road, thereby creating a new east-west traffic artery in northern Kaohsiung.

Following the Land Administration Bureau's presentation, the Police Department delivered reported on the "Summer Vacation Youth Protection - Youth Program." This initiative targets six critical areas: drug prevention, halting the gang recruitment of youth, combating child and youth sexual exploitation, broadening public awareness campaigns, protecting students from fraudulent job offers, and ensuring safety in business venues and near water bodies. The department is dedicated to rigorous enforcement and educational efforts to shield young people from hazards such as misleading job advertisements, sexual exploitation, and drug enticement. The report also encourages both the public and private sectors to actively contribute to safeguarding youth, with the goal of ensuring a secure and enjoyable summer vacation for all youth in the city.

During the meeting, Mayor Chen tasked all relevant departments and units to intensify safety inspections as the summer break approaches. He specifically directed the Economic Development Bureau, Fire Bureau, and Public Works Bureau to continue strengthening safety inspections at public places popular with teenagers to ensure their safety. To prevent students from being deceived by fraudulent job advertisements and becoming victims of fraud, the Mayor also urged the Police Department, Education Bureau, and Labor Affairs Bureau to enhance their efforts in preventing job scams.

To address the heightened risk of drowning incidents among teenagers at outdoor river streams and beaches during summer break, Mayor Chen has directed the Education Bureau, Fire Bureau, and Police Department to collaborate with the Coast Guard to enhance drowning prevention efforts. Furthermore, Mayor Chen has tasked the Labor Affairs Bureau with enforcing employers' responsibilities for supervising safety measures, maintaining site safety, and ensuring that protective equipment is used according to standard operating procedures. He also highlighted the necessity for increased inspections to improve occupational safety.