Former MP Demands Govt Honor Flood Compensation Promise

Former Pheu Thai MP Thawiwong To-thawiwong from Ayutthaya held a press conference at parliament on October 28 at 10:30 AM regarding compensation for flood victims. He demanded the government address opportunity-loss payments for people affected by flooding lasting more than a month, questioning why the "step-by-step" compensation scheme implemented under the previous administration has not been revived this year.

Thawiwong raised two main points. First, current compensation is inequitable: Bangkok residents get 9,000 baht for 3-5 days of flooding, while provincial residents in Ayutthaya, Chachoengsao, and Prachinburi — flooded since late September through October — receive nothing despite losing livelihoods, especially farmers unable to work their fields. He insisted the government must provide monthly opportunity-loss payments, not just the 9,000 baht relief, to ensure fairness.

Second, he invoked the standard set by the previous government. During last year's 3-4 month floods in Ayutthaya, the administration paid monthly opportunity-loss compensation — called the "step-by-step" scheme — which was incorporated into Pheu Thai's party policy. Thawiwong noted that the Bhumjaithai Party campaigned in Ayutthaya promising to continue this scheme, yet a month into this year's floods, the government has not responded or mentioned reviving it.

Thawiwong said the government could approve the payments via a cabinet resolution requesting supplementary budget allocation. Citing Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation data showing roughly 100,000 households flooded for over a month, he estimated 500 million baht would cover monthly 5,000 baht payments, while a one-month 9,000 baht relief would cost 900 million baht — both within the government's capacity to fund from the central budget.