Contacts: Ho Kuan-Hsien; Lin Chien-Yi
Telephone: 037-559827
Publication Date: 15:13, March 2, 2026
In accordance with amendments to the Organization Regulations of Local Administrative Agencies, the Miaoli County Government has established two new first-level departments — the Digital Research and Evaluation Department and the Department of Long-Term Care — on March 1 with the support of the county council. On March 2, County Magistrate Chung Tung-Chin officiated at the inauguration ceremonies for both departments, marking a new stage in the county’s organizational development. The move symbolizes Miaoli’s progress toward a new era of smart governance while demonstrating the county government’s forward-looking approach to addressing the challenges of an aging society.
To strengthen smart governance, the Digital Research and Evaluation Department has been established to oversee digital transformation governance, the digitalization of public services, cybersecurity protection, comprehensive planning, research and development, and policy evaluation and performance monitoring. Huang Chih-Chun, formerly an Executive Officer, has been appointed Director-General, while Lin Kuo-Chu, formerly Deputy Director-General of the Civil Affairs Department, has been appointed to the role of Deputy Director-General.
To respond to and align with the county’s steadily increasing aging population and the national Long-Term Care 3.0 policy, the former second-level agency, the Long-Term Care Management Center, has been upgraded to the Department of Long-Term Care, a first-level department. Chuang Su-Ling, formerly Deputy Director-General of the Public Health Bureau, has been promoted to Director-General, and Wang Bao-Tzu, former Director of the Long-Term Care Management Center, has been promoted to Deputy Director-General.
On March 2, Magistrate Chung, Miaoli County Council Speaker Lee Wen-Pin, Deputy Speaker Chang Shu-Fen, and other elected representatives attended the inauguration ceremony for the Digital Research and Evaluation Department on the 7th floor of the county government building. The establishment of the department marks a new chapter in smart governance and digital transformation for the county government. The department includes three specialized divisions — the Information Technology Division, the Cybersecurity Division, and the Research, Development, Evaluation and Control Division. Through the integration of digital governance and policy evaluation functions, the county government aims to further enhance administrative efficiency and deliver more precise public services, ensuring that residents can clearly see, easily find, and conveniently use government services.
During the ceremony, the new department announced several key policy initiatives, including the establishment of a Digital Advisory Task Force to support process reengineering, the expansion of online government services and proactive notification systems, development of a digital points ecosystem, creation of decision-making dashboards, promotion of AI-assisted document processing, enhancement of the 1999 Citizen Service Hotline and the County Magistrate’s Online Mailbox, and improved oversight of major projects and post-disaster reconstruction efforts. The department will also hold regular supervisory meetings to ensure implementation effectiveness and promote stronger cross-departmental collaboration.
Later the same day, Magistrate Chung traveled to the Long-Term Care and Health Education Building in Houlong to officiate at the inauguration ceremony for the Department of Long-Term Care, joined by Speaker Lee Wen-Pin, Deputy Speaker Chang Shu-Fen, elected representatives, and leaders from medical institutions. The ceremony symbolized a new stage in the integrated development of Miaoli’s care service system. The department includes three divisions — the Care Services Division, Institution Management Division, and General Administration Division — and will continue to uphold the core principles of people-centered care, community-based services, and professional integration, combining medical and social welfare resources to build a more comprehensive and resilient long-term care system.
In addition to integrating existing long-term care services, the department will incorporate certain disability-related service functions previously handled by the Social Affairs Department. Service stations in Toufen City and Tongxiao Township will continue to operate along with existing service offices in the rural townships of Nanzhuang, Shitan, Tai’an, and Sanwan. Service procedures and contact channels will remain unchanged, allowing residents to continue accessing services conveniently at nearby locations and improving the accessibility and convenience of care resources.
Magistrate Chung noted that the establishment of the Digital Research and Evaluation Department is necessary for modern urban governance, emphasizing that data also plays a critical role in addition to smart technologies. He hopes that data-driven approaches can be fully utilized in policy planning and governance. Drawing on his previous observations of administrative operations at the Taipei City Government, he noted that technology has greatly improved the efficiency of official document processing between executive and legislative branches. With the upcoming appointment of a new deputy magistrate, he expressed confidence that further coordination and improvements can be achieved. Phison Electronics Corporation has also proposed cooperation in enhancing the 1999 citizen service system. The county government looks forward to accelerating the development of artificial intelligence in Miaoli, cultivating even more talented professionals in fields such as transportation, agriculture, and education to strengthen the county’s future development.
Magistrate Chung also emphasized that the team within the Department of Long-Term Care possesses extensive professional experience, and the department will bring additional resources and help retain more skilled personnel. The county government plans to develop public long-term care homes in the future, including a long-term care facility in Tongluo, which is expected to be developed in cooperation with the Tzu Chi Foundation. To provide residents with more diverse care options, the county government welcomes organizations and institutions to establish long-term care centers in Miaoli. For residents with financial difficulties, the county government and township offices will provide assistance. Bed allocations will be planned based on needs and the population proportions of each township and city. Magistrate Chung expressed hope that through the efforts of the Department of Long-Term Care, seniors will be able to enjoy a secure and worry-free retirement. He also noted that Miaoli is an ideal place for retirement and warmly welcomes people from across Taiwan to visit and experience the county.