"Tae" joined "Nong Phasapong," candidate number 7 for Bangkok governor, in the final campaign push highlighting solutions for old building issues and earthquake preparedness, while promoting a population growth policy through the "Baby Boom Festival." "Baby Boom Festival" is a literal translation of the event's name used in the article.
On 21 Jun 2026 GMT+7, Mongkolkit Suksintharanon, or "Tae," together with Phasapong, candidate number 7 for Bangkok governor representing the Bangkok Flying Group, conducted final campaign activities before the Bangkok governor election. Their schedule included five locations: Ram Inthra area from 13:15 to 14:45, Pratunam area from 15:30 to 16:30, Saphan Khwai area from 16:45 to 17:30, Pradiphat Road to Victory Monument Circle from 17:30 to 18:30, and Victory Monument area from 18:30 to 19:45.
Phasapong said the Bangkok Flying Group continues meeting the public, focusing on the recent canopy collapse incident on 20 June near Wat Traimit and Yaowarat area. The affected building is over 100 years old, while Yaowarat Road was constructed during King Rama V's reign in 1892 CE.
Phasapong noted that Thailand enacted its Building Control Act in 1979 CE, with amendments in 2000 and 2023 CE. The law focuses on construction, demolition, alteration, and extension of buildings, but many buildings were constructed before this law came into effect.
If elected governor, he will push for Bangkok to assign civil engineers to scan and inspect buildings in monitored areas, especially in old city districts such as Samphanthawong, Phra Nakhon, and Pom Prap Sattru Phai, where many buildings date back to the early Rattanakosin period.
Mongkolkit said there are seven days left before the Bangkok governor election. That morning, he campaigned in Ram Inthra area before moving to Pratunam area, which felt rather subdued despite the government's "Half-Half" co-payment scheme.
Mongkolkit observed campaign signs of all 18 governor candidates and four council candidates, noting that number 7's signs stood out with shirts clearly marking the Bangkok Flying Group name. He also addressed issues of unauthorized building extensions in Bangkok, where approved plans differ from actual constructions. Without official inspections, such violations go unpunished, and designers are not held liable if they certified the approved plans.
Mongkolkit sees this regulatory gap as a longstanding problem in Bangkok's building control system. Many old buildings, some 100 to 200 years old, can only withstand limited earthquake tremors, while modern high-rises remain at risk if a strong earthquake occurs.
He proposed that Bangkok prepare earthquake disaster response plans immediately, without waiting for a new governor. This includes budgeting, equipment procurement, and acquiring helicopters for rescue missions in high-rise emergencies. The Bangkok Flying Group also envisions establishing a "Bangkok SEAL unit" to assist people trapped in high-rise buildings or fire incidents, citing past Bangkok fire events that required specialized rescue teams.
Another key policy Mongkolkit presented is addressing the declining birth rate. Currently, Bangkok averages about 60,000 newborns annually, while the whole country has about 410,000. If candidate number 7 is elected governor, he aims to increase Bangkok’s newborns to 100,000 per year through policies supporting childbirth, including temporary child care for young parents until they are ready, and the "Baby Boom Festival" project.
Mongkolkit explained that upon election certification, district offices will open applications for legally married couples physically prepared to join the program, requiring health checks for both partners before participation.
Eligible couples who conceive will receive an initial financial support of 50,000 baht, and if they carry the pregnancy to term and deliver a child, they will receive an additional 50,000 baht, totaling 100,000 baht per couple. If 10,000 couples participate, the program budget would be around 1 billion baht, which he believes Bangkok’s budget can accommodate.
Mongkolkit added that if many couples enroll in each district, the program could boost newborns by 10,000 to 20,000 annually, contributing future workforce, tax revenue, and national development.
He also proposed activities promoting public health for the future, including competitions among healthy individuals, reproductive health promotion for both men and women, and incentives with rewards under the concept of Bangkok’s "Baby Boom Festival," aiming to serve as a model for other provinces to adopt.