THE cabinet today (Oct. 20) approved an allocation of 10.5 billion baht from the central budget for fiscal 2027 earmarked for emergency or urgent needs to provide relief to flood victims, Naewna newspaper and Amarin TV said.
This follows the exhaustion of previously allocated funds from fiscal 2026 budget, as had been proposed by the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) .
Additionally, the cabinet approved a one-year extension for Mr. Phumisarn Kasemsuk, secretary-general of the Office of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission, following the completion of his four-year term.
Previously, DDPM Director-General Nirat Pongsitthavorn indicated that a request for 10,508.876 million baht would be submitted to support 1,481,401 households.
Meanwhile, the Commerce Ministry was to propose measures to stabilise the price of unhusked rice (paddy) for the 2026/27 production year. Additionally, the Maize Policy and Management Committee will present measures to stabilise the price of animal-feed maize and promote its production for the 2026/27 season, in anticipation of the upcoming harvest entering the market thus preventing price slumps caused by market oversupply.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is preparing to propose the signing of an agreement between Thailand and Portugal on visa exemptions for holders of diplomatic, official, or special passports, as well as an agreement between Thailand and Spain on visa exemptions for holders of official passports. The ministry will also present the documents on bilateral cooperation meeting between Thailand and Malaysia, scheduled for Friday Oct. 23, in Bangkok.
Meanwhile, the Tourism and Sports Ministry will propose a draft agreement to establish a Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) tourism office. At the same time, the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council has proposed extending the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding the renewal of the “Country Programme” between the Thai government and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
CAPTION:
Top and Front Page: A heavily flooded road. Photo – Naewna
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Floods:
Pattaya flooded after being pounded by torrential rain
20 provinces plus parts of Bangkok still flooded
Villagers hang motorcycles from trees to protect them from floodwaters
1.64 million SMEs at risk from floods as liquidity concerns mount
Huge spillway project proposed to fight critical floodings in the long run
