Strategic Measures for the Country’s Rehabilitation 

Today at 13.00 hours at Santi Maitree Building, Government House, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra chaired the press conference on "Strategic Measures for the Country’s Rehabilitation”. Gist is as follows;

Current Situation and the Situation after the Water Recedes

Given the current flood situation in Thailand which has seriously and extensively affected the livelihood of the people, together with the problem of climate change, the Government has taken action to solve the urgent problems faced by establishing the Flood Relief Operations Centre (FROC) to provide assistance to those affected which FROC continues to do.  Additionally though, as the situation in some flood-affected areas of the country have begun to ease, the Government will have to effectively and promptly rehabilitate and provide remedies for those affected by the said situation.  Thailand will also have to be ready to build confidence, regain trust, and restore the country’s prosperity and stability in the long-term in a manner that is sustainable and systematic.

Strategy for the Country’s Rehabilitation

          The Government’s strategy for the country’s rehabilitation can be separated into three parallel phases, namely, the 3R’s – Rescue, Restore and Rebuild, as follows:

          1) Immediate Phase – Rescue efforts to be completed within 1 - 2 months.  The FROC was established to receive requests for assistance and address the needs of the people, receive donations, distribute relief assistance to those affected, provide medical care and temporary shelters, and to manage the floods.

          2) Short-term Phase – Restoration efforts to be completed within 1 year.  Quick restoration of various systems so that they are operational again, including the provision of remedies, financial assistance, loans and various privileges.  In this regard, the Committee and Mechanism to Rehabilitate and Provide Remedies to Flood-affected Persons was established by the Prime Minister’s Order No. 230/2554 issued on Friday 4 November 2011.  Chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Yongyoot Wichaidit with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport as the Deputy Chairman, this Committee will set the approach, formulate measures, integrate work and monitor overall progress.

          3) Long-term Phase – This covers actions to be taken to build confidence, regain trust, and restore the country’s prosperity and stability.  In this connection, a Regulation of the Office of the Prime Minister has been issued establishing two committees, namely:

               - The Strategic Formulation Committee for Reconstruction and Future Development (SCRF), and

               - The Strategic Formulation Committee for Water Resources Management (SCWRM).

Work to be Undertaken in the Long-term - Rebuild 

               This must be immediately actionable by all sectors of the country as soon as the water recedes. To this end, the Government has invited experts from various fields to together formulate a strategy for the country’s rehabilitation within the following framework:

          1) Objective

               To jointly set the country’s future, build confidence, regain trust and restore the country’s prosperity and stability in the long-term in a manner that is sustainable and systematic.

          2) Scope covers two issues:

               - Rehabilitation and building the country’s future, and

               - Putting into place a national water resources management system

          3) Work Mechanism

                - Establish the strategic committee through the regulation of the Office of the Prime Minister and issue an order appointing two groups of eminent persons to assume responsibility (which has already been approved by the cabinet during its meeting today, Tuesday 8 November 2011).

                - Each committee has been requested to propose a timeframe for its work to the cabinet as soon as possible.

On the Strategic Formulation Committee for Reconstruction and Future Development

          The Government has invited Dr. Veerapong Ramangkul to chair the Committee with two Deputy Prime Ministers, namely, Mr. Yongyoot Wichaidit and Mr. Kitiratt Na-Ranong, the Minister of Finance and a number of eminent persons as members.  The Secretary-General of the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board will both member and secretary of the Committee.

On the Strategic Formulation Committee for Water Resources Management

          The Government has invited Dr. Sumet Tantivejkul to be an advisor.  The Committee will be chaired by the Prime Minister or a designated Deputy Prime Minister.  Eminent persons with knowledge and expertise on water management will also be appointed members. The Secretary-General of the Strategic Committee on Setting the Management of Water Resources and the Secretary-General of the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board will be members and joint secretaries of the Committee.

Conclusion

          The Government has tried its best to move the country forward, whilst solving the serious flood problems currently faced.  We cannot afford to be idle.  We must all do our part to tackle this challenge. We must be prepared to keep up with changes that are constantly taking place. The Government promises that it will do its utmost to restore confidence and faith in the Kingdom so as to lead the country forward with stability. To this end, we will together build Thailand.

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