Bangkok: The House Committee on Administration has summoned the governors of Surin, Ubon Ratchathani, and Sisaket to address ongoing issues related to budget disbursement for the care of residents along the Thai-Cambodian border.

According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Krawee Prisananantakul, MP for Ang Thong and Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Administration, revealed that a Cabinet-approved budget of 100 million baht per province was intended to be disbursed for emergency relief. Despite assurances from the Minister that the budget was ready for disbursement, there have been discrepancies in actual implementation, with some areas receiving funds while others have not. The meeting included representatives from the Ministry of Interior, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM), and the Comptroller General’s Department to evaluate government policies aimed at providing special emergency relief funds.

Mr. Krawee emphasized that while government figures suggest available funds, the reality is that many districts have not received the expected disbursements. Public care has largely depended on donations from citizens, rather than government allocations. He called upon the Ministry of Interior to clarify these issues and propose solutions to ensure that budget disbursement aligns with the government’s commitments.

The adequacy of the initial 100 million baht budget was questioned, with Mr. Krawee pointing out that the minister’s allocation of 500,000 baht per district is insufficient, especially when funds are depleted quickly. He urged the government to reassess the situation and ensure that the budget covers actual costs, reducing the need for reliance on donations. Mr. Krawee stressed the importance of the government fulfilling its responsibility to provide for the people in evacuation centers effectively and efficiently.