The People’s Party summarizes lessons from the southern floods, recommending a 15 billion baht investment to revive Hat Yai and urging the government to end short-term economic stimulus handouts in favor of building long-term confidence.
On 8 April 2026 at the House of Representatives, Mr. Natthapong Ruangpanyawut, leader of the People’s Party, debated a motion on flood management in Songkhla Province. Drawing from his experience volunteering after the floods, he noted that citizens and volunteers had to cooperate without clear government direction. The biggest issue was a crisis of confidence, especially among Hat Yai’s business sector, which believed the city would never return to normal unless the government provided a clear assurance that heavy rains would not cause repeated flooding. Although zero-interest loans were available, businessmen hesitated to borrow without a visible future.
Mr. Natthapong therefore proposed the “Songkhla Declaration,” a pledge from the People’s Party to push for an investment budget exceeding 15 billion baht over eight years to reform Hat Yai’s infrastructure and urban planning through five key proposals. These include developing a resilient city by designing buildings with elevated first floors to serve as water channels, and legislating urban plans to preserve canal-side areas as parks combined with floodways, modeled after Yala Municipality’s example. The government should provide funding support instead of shifting the burden to local authorities and private sectors.
Regarding compensation payments, he proposed increasing the home repair subsidy limit from 49,500 baht to 100,000 baht, paid based on actual costs to help residents restart their lives. For economic recovery, the government should build confidence before stimulating consumption. He suggested applying the “Half-Half Plus” model to allocate budgets specifically to encourage tourism in Hat Yai and flood-affected areas once waters recede, thereby simultaneously boosting the economy and supporting businesses. He also recommended establishing a single command center integrating public and private sectors to avoid the disorganized responses seen in northern dust crises and past floods. Additionally, he proposed using GISTDA’s technology to provide accurate advance flood warnings to prevent loss of life and property.
“The 15 billion baht investment under the Songkhla Declaration is capital investment in infrastructure to protect economic losses worth tens of billions of baht. The government should use the 2026 budget to create a clear vision rather than spending it on unfocused economic stimulus, because without clarity, Hat Yai will never regain its position as a strong economic engine,” Mr. Natthapong concluded.