Kumamoto Quakes to Be 1st Case under New Reconstruction Law

Tokyo, May 9 (Jiji Press)--The Japanese government decided Monday to apply the new large-scale disaster reconstruction law for the first time, to a series of strong earthquakes in Kumamoto Prefecture and nearby areas since last month. The Kumamoto quakes are set to be designated as an "extraordinary disaster" under the law, enacted in 2013, at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday. The designation will allow the central government to carry out work to repair bridges, tunnels, roads and other infrastructure managed by local governments in the affected areas in southwestern Japan. In addition, state subsidies to cover payroll costs in order to protect jobs in the areas will also be boosted. The coverage rate will rise from two-thirds to four-fifths for small businesses and from a half to two-thirds for large companies. At a meeting of the emergency response headquarters for the Kumamoto quakes, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe vowed to "do all we can to get disaster victims back to their normal lives and complete the reconstruction of affected areas." "The central government will continue to provide full-scale support and work with the prefectural and municipal governments there," Abe stressed. Attending the headquarters' meeting for the first time, Kumamoto Governor Ikuo Kabashima asked for medium- to long-term fiscal support under a new special law. END