Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Addresses Flood Relief Budget Concerns

On October 17, 2026, Nirat Pongsitthithavorn, Director-General of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM), responded to criticisms from opposition members regarding the management of flood relief funds for the 2026 rainy season. Opposition MPs had raised concerns that the initial cabinet-approved budget of 5.28 billion baht was calculated inaccurately and might be insufficient to cover all affected households.

Nirat clarified that the DDPM operates based on verified data submitted by provinces and Bangkok. He explained that budget requests are strictly tied to the number of households reported in the system at the time of the request, preventing the department from requesting funds beyond documented needs. However, acknowledging the urgent plight of citizens across 66 provinces and Bangkok, the government is now preparing to propose an additional 10.508 billion baht to the cabinet to ensure that relief payments continue without interruption.

For residents and travelers, this development highlights the ongoing government efforts to manage the aftermath of the 2026 floods. While the relief process is active, the exact timeline for the approval and distribution of these additional funds remains to be confirmed by the cabinet. Residents in affected areas should continue to monitor official announcements from local authorities regarding the status of their relief applications.