Nattapong, leader of the People’s Party, pointed out the government's failure in flood management and urged the prime minister to personally chair the command center instead of leaving local authorities to handle the problem alone.
On 7 Oct 2026 GMT+7 at the Parliament building, the People’s Party held a press conference on the 15th shadow cabinet meeting. Nattapong Ruangpanyawut, the party leader, called on the government to extend assistance to local administrative organizations in post-flood recovery efforts.
Nattapong stated that what they observed was the government’s mismanagement of the situation. He cited Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Akniti Nitithanprapas’s remarks after visiting flood areas, noting that government agencies operated independently without coordination. The prime minister, who should lead and coordinate all agencies for efficient relief to the people, instead avoided the problem by choosing to inspect field kitchens rather than responding to parliamentary inquiries.
He continued that the current flood crisis is not over. The government must properly divide management zones. There remain many red zones in the central and eastern regions, such as Chachoengsao, Prachinburi, Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani, and Nakhon Pathom, which require effective crisis management to minimize public losses. However, the government has repeatedly mishandled the crisis response, as seen in Chachoengsao where residents had to evacuate twice due to poor water forecasting and delayed warnings.
In areas where floodwaters have receded, like Bangkok, the government has left local authorities to manage problems on their own, especially large debris collection such as furniture from communities. He therefore called on the government not to leave localities isolated but to mobilize all available resources, equipment, machinery, and trucks from other areas to assist with recovery in drained zones.
Meanwhile, in the red zones, recent data still show risks from ongoing heavy rains and critical water levels for about one more week, so complacency is not an option. He urged the prime minister to personally take charge of the command center to achieve tangible outcomes.
Regarding the People’s Party’s efforts, their team in Bangkok has already deployed trucks and machinery to help remove debris from residents’ homes. The party is also preparing to address chemical contamination and pollution issues from industrial factories in Prachinburi, which worsen the plight of flood victims. After inspecting the area and confirming the severity, Nattapong plans to bring the matter to the parliamentary Industry Committee for further consideration.