The Village Committee for Upholding the Five Precepts conducted a field visit to "Koh Chang" while the Governor of Trat emphasized that practicing the Five Precepts leads to a peaceful society with healthy and content citizens.
On 4 September 2026, reports indicated that at Khlong Prao Temple, Koh Chang District, Trat Province, Phra Dhammawachirasunthorn, Acting Chairman of the Central Executive Committee, along with Phra Thep Samut Wacharachan, Chairman of the Middle Village Committee for Upholding the Five Precepts, committee members, and subcommittee members, conducted a field visit to inspect and evaluate a model village upholding the Five Precepts. They were welcomed by Phra Ratchawachirathamkhani, Provincial Ecclesiastical Head of Trat; Piriya Chantadilok, Governor of Trat; Phisoot Rattanawong, Senator of Trat; heads of provincial agencies; local administrators; subdistrict chiefs; village headmen; teachers; students; and local Buddhists.
Piriya Chantadilok gave a welcoming speech noting that Trat Province consists of 7 districts, 38 subdistricts, and 261 villages, with one provincial administrative organization, one town municipality, 14 subdistrict municipalities, and 28 subdistrict administrative organizations. There are 151 temples in the province. Trat is known for its many islands, as reflected in the provincial motto: “City of Fifty Islands, Precious Red Gems, Sweet Rakam Fruit, Well-Fitted Saddles, Naval Battle of Koh Chang, the Easternmost Frontier.”
Regarding the province's efforts to promote reconciliation and harmony, Trat has implemented the project jointly with the Sangha—both the Mahanikai and Dhammayut orders—to integrate efforts among temples, relevant government and private agencies, every district, local administrative organizations, subdistrict chiefs, village headmen, schools, and all sectors. The goal is to promote temples as pleasant places, centers for Buddhist learning, and to encourage the people of Trat to maintain both physical and mental health.
To prevent and resolve issues of corruption, misconduct, harm to oneself and others, and to promote temples as Buddhist tourism destinations, the province adopts Buddhist principles as guidelines for mindful living on the path of sufficiency. This builds mental and social stability by creating resilience against mental health problems, depression, suicide, and domestic violence.
By applying these Buddhist principles, the people of Trat enjoy physical and mental well-being and improved quality of life. The project continues steadily with activities fostering a pleasant environment at temples through the 5S approach—cleanliness, convenience, thoroughness, hygiene, and habit formation—creating an environment conducive to living, practicing Dhamma, and doing good deeds. This develops physical comfort and appropriate temple accommodations.
Additionally, activities promote sustainable livelihoods based on the five moral principles to create jobs and income for community members, in cooperation with various subdistricts under the jurisdiction of the Koh Chang Sangha District. An exhibition showcasing the Village Upholding the Five Precepts concept and the Khlong Prao community was also presented for visitors.
Khlong Prao Temple was established as a monastic residence by Phra Kru Nithat Thammayan, Koh Chang District Ecclesiastical Head, in 1979, with Phra Sombun Intawanno as the head of the residence. It was officially designated a temple in 2009. Currently, Phra Palat Sakda Thitthammo serves as the abbot.
Later, Phra Kru Munin Jariyanurak, Deputy Provincial Ecclesiastical Head of Trat and abbot of Laem Makham Temple in Laem Ngop District, Trat Province, led Phra Dhammawachirasunthorn and his group to visit Watchakam Khotthawip Temple on Koh Chang. They inspected the construction of a new ubosot replacing the old one, with Mr. Sutthipong Juljaroen and Dr. Wandi Kunjaryakhong Juljaroen serving as patrons.
Phra Kru Munin Jariyanurak explained that the old ubosot at Watchakam Khotthawip Temple suffered flooding during heavy rains. About three years ago, he attended the opening of the Sanong Phongphan Juljaroen Building at Laem Ngop Hospital in Laem Ngop District, built by the devoted official to honor his mother. He informed him about the flooding issue at the temple's ubosot, which is linked to King Chulalongkorn (Rama V). According to royal correspondence, in 1904, the king arrived by boat at Koh Chang early in the morning, bathed and rested at a waterfall during the day, and returned to the boat to stay overnight on the island.
Phra Kru Munin Jariyanurak added that local elders have passed down that after this event, the king did not proceed with building the ubosot; only his footprint remains, covered with bricks by villagers. The new ubosot construction by Mr. Sutthipong Juljaroen and Dr. Wandi Kunjaryakhong Juljaroen honors King Rama V’s royal intention to build the ubosot. The new ubosot is still under construction but on 10 October 2026, a ceremony will be held to cast and consecrate the principal Buddha image for the ubosot, offered by the devoted official’s family as a continuing tradition.