Anutin revealed the allocation of over 4 billion baht from the central budget for flood relief, and a 160 billion baht budget to expand water channels "Chainat-Pasak-Gulf of Thailand." He strongly denied false claims about banning rescue teams from distributing food before the Prime Minister's visit, stating there is no such policy.
On 29 September 2026 at 13:00 GMT+7, at the Government House, Anutin Charnvirakul, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, spoke after a cabinet meeting regarding flood relief measures. He confirmed that more than 4 billion baht from the remaining central budget has been reserved to assist and rehabilitate flood-affected people nationwide, which should be sufficient for the current flood situation beyond just Bangkok. When asked if households would receive 9,000 baht each, Anutin explained that support must follow legal criteria, with affected areas and agencies submitting proposals to a committee. Flood and natural disaster management is overseen by the Deputy Prime Minister and ministers assigned to each region. Recently, Lieutenant General Adul Boonthamcharoen, Minister of Defense, was appointed as the cabinet's representative for Bangkok. This ensures clear command and coordination in each area, empowering directives to all agencies.
When asked if the "Chainat-Pasak-Gulf of Thailand" project to relieve and reduce the Chao Phraya River's burden was approved by the cabinet, Anutin confirmed it was, with a budget of 160 billion baht over eight years. Once completed, it will significantly improve flood prevention in Central Thailand, Bangkok, and its vicinity. Importantly, it will serve as a natural water retention area. Deputy Prime Minister Songsak Thongsri, overseeing the National Water Resources Office, will convene a meeting to revise criteria allowing localities to create water retention areas to store and divert water for use during the dry season. Since floods cannot always be prevented and sometimes cause damage, the project aims to harness water beneficially during droughts. Regarding the project's funding, Anutin said it will include loans, with discussions among the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, National Economic and Social Development Council, Budget Bureau, and Ministry of Finance. When pressed about whether loans would be domestic or foreign, he asked to wait for further details.
When asked about reports that rescue officials posted that police prevented them from entering areas to distribute food until after the Prime Minister's visit, Anutin responded, "No, there is no such policy. These are baseless claims. Everything follows established procedures focused on public care. The government appreciates all sectors, including volunteer rescue teams, for their support. I affirm that the central government has mobilized dry food supplies through purchases, kitchen setups, and food preparation vehicles sent to affected areas. On 28 September, we dispatched necessary food to flood zones. Now, we are focusing on recovery. Earlier, I invited the incoming permanent secretary of Bangkok and the Royal Irrigation Department director-general to plan coordination for pumping water from flooded areas. Conditions are favorable for pumping and diverting water to the maximum extent, and we aim to restore traffic routes as quickly as possible."