Central News Agency(Central News Agency reporter Wang Hung-kuo, New Taipei, July 14) Kuomintang (KMT) New Taipei mayoral candidate Lee Sichuan today announced five major healthcare policies, including building hospitals in Luzhou and Danhai and advancing the development of the Banqiao Medical Park. Meanwhile, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) mayoral candidate Su Chiao-hui stressed her recent dialogues with community colleges, aiming to secure their stable operations.Lee Sichuan announced the five healthcare policies on Facebook today. During a press interview at the Jingtu Temple's Shuilu Kong Dazhai Shenghui ceremony at noon, he explained that New Taipei City has a population of 4.04 million, but most hospitals are located in Taipei City. If elected mayor, he pledged to strengthen local healthcare resources.He stated that the first of the five policies is constructing a hospital in Luzhou to address medical resource shortages in the Xibei region. Second, he plans to integrate the New Taipei City United Hospital’s Banqiao branch into an expanded Banqiao Medical Park through a BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) model, aiming to serve the health needs of over 500,000 residents in Banqiao.Third, he intends to build a regional hospital in the Danhai New Town, positioning it as a center for elderly care and rehabilitation services on the northern coast, thereby improving medical access in the Danhai area. Fourth, he aims to expand the Tucheng Hospital Medical Park into a one-stop integrated system combining healthcare, long-term care, and social welfare services. He also pledged support for the expansion of En Chu Kong Hospital to enhance medical services in the Xinan region.Regarding the site selection for the New Taipei Dome, Lee expressed respect for Mayor Hou Yu-ih’s evaluation and expert recommendations. Drawing on his experience overseeing the construction of Taipei’s Little Giant Dome and managing the Giant Dome project, he stated he would expedite the completion of the New Taipei Dome to boost sports and concert economies and stimulate local prosperity.Su Chiao-hui’s campaign office issued a press release today, stating that Su recently held exchanges with various community colleges to discuss visions for civic participation and sustainable community development. The community colleges expressed hopes that the next mayor would place greater emphasis on their operations and foster broader civic engagement.Su emphasized that each of New Taipei’s 29 districts possesses unique historical narratives and cultural stories. Community colleges should develop diverse, locally tailored courses centered on regional characteristics. Examples include Tamsui Community College’s Tamsui River canoe cultural tour, Shulin Community College’s coal mining cultural trail, and Zhonghe Community College’s Burmese cultural introduction—reflecting New Taipei’s multicultural population and rich heritage.Su noted that community colleges serve as vital platforms for understanding a city, enabling lifelong learning and acting as gateways to civic participation. They play a crucial role in strengthening social support networks at the local level.If elected mayor, Su pledged not only to increase municipal budget allocations for community colleges but also to actively assist them in securing venues and reducing financial burdens. She aims to ensure their stable operation through robust institutional support. Additionally, she will establish smoother communication channels between the city government and community colleges, enabling them to co-create policies and become collaborative partners in urban governance. (Edited by Lin Shu-hui) 1150714Choose to stand with facts. Your support is a force in defending press freedom.Download the CNA 'First News' app for real-time updates.Text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.