Supamas advances upskilling of the "community loudspeaker" network to enhance crisis communication, emphasizing that warnings must be fast, clear, and accessible to all communities.
At 11:00 a.m. on 28 Aug 2026 GMT+7 in Udon Thani Province, Ms. Supamas Isarapakdi, Minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office and overseer of the Public Relations Department, presided over the opening of the "Strengthening the Community Loudspeaker Network for Crisis Communication (During the Flood Season)" event for fiscal year 2026. Present were Mr. Phisitchai Aphaipiyakul, Deputy Governor of Udon Thani; Mr. Pradermchai Boonchuaileo, Advisor to the Minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office; Dr. Pornpitak Maensiri, Deputy Director-General of the Public Relations Department; along with department executives, government officials, community leaders, subdistrict chiefs, village heads, community loudspeaker operators, and local network participants.
Ms. Supamas stated that this event reflects the government's proactive preparedness under Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's leadership, emphasizing prevention and mitigation of flood impacts by preparing local communication mechanisms in advance so residents have time to prepare, protect themselves, and reduce potential losses.
“During the flood season, many areas face flood risks. The Prime Minister is deeply concerned about the hardships of the people and has instructed that warnings must be issued promptly, clearly, and reach the greatest number of citizens,” she said. Ms. Supamas added.
She further explained that the Public Relations Department has integrated efforts with the Ministry of Interior to utilize community loudspeakers as key local mechanisms linking government information to villagers. Currently, there are approximately 80,000 loudspeaker networks nationwide, connected with the department’s radio, television, and online media, enabling rapid and comprehensive dissemination of vital information to residents.
“Community loudspeaker operators are not merely announcers; they are integral to the government communication system, playing a vital role in receiving, verifying, and relaying accurate information. They also help foster understanding and reduce public confusion in situations requiring swift information,” Ms. Supamas said. Ms. Supamas added.
She emphasized that crisis communication cannot be handled by any single agency but requires cooperation from all sectors, especially local communication networks. This event aims to enhance the knowledge and skills of community loudspeaker operators and foster collaboration between government agencies and local networks to ensure accurate and timely coordination and information flow during crises.
The Public Relations Department serves as a trusted government media source in both normal and crisis situations. Strengthening the community loudspeaker network will enable state communication to reach villagers and communities effectively, ensuring timely delivery of warnings to at-risk areas.
“I urge participants to apply the knowledge and experience gained from this event in their duties and to collectively serve as key networks in communicating government information, so that citizens receive accurate, fast, clear, and comprehensive data to make informed and safe decisions in response to situations,” Ms. Supamas concluded. Ms. Supamas concluded her remarks.