“Theng-Nattapong” visited Romklao Housing, finding residents stranded and lacking water and food. He pointed out structural problems in Bangkok’s disaster response, saying it cannot compete with provincial areas. He urged the government to communicate the "truth" directly and honestly.
On 28 September 2026, Nattapong Ruangpanyawut, leader of the People’s Party, together with Chumphon Lakkham, MP for Bangkok’s 20th District (Lat Krabang), and Rakchanok Srinok, party list MP of the People’s Party, visited Romklao Housing in Lat Krabang, Bangkok. This outer area remains heavily flooded, making vehicle travel impossible. The team had to load drinking water and food onto high-clearance vehicles, then transfer them to boats for delivery to residents trapped deep inside the community.
Nattapong noted differences in disaster management between Bangkok and the provinces. Having visited Chanthaburi Province the day before and compared it to multiple Bangkok sites, he observed clear distinctions. In provinces, local administrative organizations like subdistrict administrative organizations and municipalities play crucial roles in disaster response. They establish area command centers to receive patients and act as donation hubs, coordinating with district chiefs and community leaders to distribute aid, providing residents with clear central points of contact.
In contrast, although Bangkok has more resources and capabilities, it faces operational issues. Bangkok residents lack elected district administrators, weakening local and community-level disaster management, such as establishing district-level disaster management centers. These roles are less visible and effective compared to the provinces.
Nattapong continued that Bangkok performs well in centralized tasks like overall drainage managed by the Drainage Department. However, at the community operational level, it lacks sufficient mechanisms. Consequently, when large-scale disasters occur simultaneously across all areas, Bangkok cannot respond as flexibly as provincial regions.
Beyond structural issues, Nattapong called on Bangkok and the government to communicate openly with the public about drainage limitations, the current situation, and ongoing efforts. This transparency would give people hope and a timeline for resolution, rather than leaving them waiting for help without knowing their fate.
Nattapong concluded by saying the flood crisis is not confined to Bangkok; many areas in upper central, eastern, and western regions face flash floods, heavy rain, and dam water releases. The People’s Party’s water situation monitoring team, led by Decharat Sukkamned, is coordinating urgently with MPs and networks nationwide to prepare responses.
After completing the mission in Lat Krabang, the People’s Party leader will visit Bang Phli District in Samut Prakan Province to monitor the situation and assist residents. Tomorrow, the party plans to propose solutions to the largest issue—the drainage system—to resolve the overall crisis as quickly as possible.
