Bangkok:The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is hastening the distribution of flood relief funds this afternoon, alongside deploying teams of technicians to inspect damage in over 100,000 cases.
According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Thawida Kamolwech, Deputy Governor of Bangkok, visited the Don Mueang District Office to oversee the ongoing relief efforts for flood-affected residents. She noted that Bangkok was not included among the provinces that received compensation from the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) due to it being mandated to use its own budget, as per a Cabinet resolution. Despite this, Ms. Thawida confirmed that the approval process has been finalized, with funds transferred to the Government Savings Bank system, and residents are expected to receive payments either this afternoon or within the next couple of days.
The application review process for compensation is categorized into three groups Green cases, involving homes surrounded by water with a straightforward review process; Yellow cases, requiring additional document verification, especially where property damage is evident; and Red cases, which initially do not meet assistance criteria but may be reconsidered if further investigation designates the area as a disaster zone. The BMA is addressing issues such as duplicate photo submissions and multiple applications from the same household, ensuring a thorough and fair review process.
Nearly 150,000 assistance requests have been submitted through the official website, primarily for living expenses. The BMA has assigned government officials, including professional engineers, to conduct on-site damage assessments, adhering to government benchmark prices. Despite having 600-700 engineers, only about 500 are available for inspections due to other commitments. Each inspection is expected to take around 30 minutes, and the BMA plans to finalize all inspections in approximately two weeks.
The Deputy Governor has encouraged affected citizens to submit their assistance applications promptly through the designated website. Additionally, the BMA is preparing to propose regulatory amendments to the Bangkok Metropolitan Council, seeking permission to use the BMA budget for repairing damaged items and materials, complementing government funding. The BMA also urges the public to provide truthful information and documents, warning against false representations that could lead to legal repercussions.