Ban Khong Municipality Clarifies Office Closure for Staff Training
Ban Khong subdistrict municipality clarified it didn't intend to fully close its office on September 7-8, saying staff training was genuine but an incomplete announcement created confusion; emergency services remained open with staff on dut
Ban Khong Subdistrict Municipality has clarified its announcement to close the office for two days to allow staff to attend a training program, after an anti-corruption Facebook page raised concerns about the closure. The municipality confirmed the program is genuine but acknowledged that the published announcement contained incomplete information that differed from the original approval memo. Officials stated the office remained partially open with staff on duty, and they are correcting the documentation.
The anti-corruption group STRONG Thailand shared the municipality's notice announcing a closure on September 7–8, 2026, to allow executives, council members, staff, and employees to participate in a personnel development and efficiency program in Phetchaburi Province. The group questioned the appropriateness of the closure.
On September 2, Ban Khong Subdistrict Municipality in Photharam District, Ratchaburi Province, explained that the program genuinely took place with 141 targeted participants and approximately 122 attendees. Disaster prevention and public service operations remained open as usual, while non-frontline personnel joined the training.
The municipality acknowledged that the Facebook announcement was incomplete and did not match the original approval memo, particularly missing the detail that disaster prevention and public services would remain open. After discovering the error, staff prepared to remove and correct the post, but a power transformer and high-voltage fuse explosion at the office caused an electrical outage and disabled office equipment, delaying the correction and republication of the notice. Officials later issued a corrected announcement and submitted clarification letters to the Ombudsman's Office, provincial authorities, and the Photharam District Office.
Subdistrict Chief Chitsanuphong Panamphan acknowledged the error and denied any intent to close public services. He instructed staff to review documents and information carefully before publishing to prevent future misunderstandings. The municipality stated the announcement aimed to inform the public and government agencies that most staff would attend training on September 7–8 while essential services continued normally, with full operations resuming after the program.
