The Anti-Corruption Organization has revealed data on Bangkok's flood prevention budget over a 10-year span (2016–2026), covering more than 9,500 projects with a total value exceeding 86 billion baht, reflecting the gravity of the issue and inviting public participation in oversight efforts.
On 19 October 2026, the Anti-Corruption Organization (Thailand), known as ACT, through Mr. Mana Nimitmongkol, chairman of the Anti-Corruption Organization, published information on his personal Facebook page under the title “Bangkok’s Flood Prevention Budget Over 7.8 Billion Baht per Year: Corruption, Waste, or What Exactly?” summarizing the key points as follows: Over the past 10 years (2016–2026), Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has spent more than 86 billion baht on flood prevention, averaging 7.8 billion baht annually across a total of 9,536 projects. These projects include construction of tunnels, embankments/sidewalks/railings, drainage systems, flood barriers, building stations/wells/pumps, dredging canals, retention ponds, and other equipment such as vehicles and boats.
Data from ACT Ai indicates that during Police General Aswin Kwanmuang’s tenure as governor from 2016 to 2022, the flood prevention budget averaged 6.7 billion baht annually, about 8.6% of the annual budget. Under Governor Chadchart Sittipunt from 2023 to 2026, the average rose to 11.5 billion baht annually, or 12.2% of the yearly budget, with project types detailed in an accompanying chart.
“I believe actual spending by BMA is even higher, but compiling complete data is difficult due to the diverse naming of projects. Additionally, each mission incurs maintenance and hidden management costs. Following this flood, BMA will need to invest hundreds of billions of baht soon, but how can Bangkok residents be confident that a major flood like this will not recur?”
When faced with heavy flooding, Bangkok residents often ask why flooding occurs even in areas near drainage tunnels, why retention ponds are not expanded, why many pumps purchased are unusable during floods, and why promised pre-rain canal water level reductions are not achieved. These concerns reflect citizens’ ongoing distress and worry over recurring flood problems.
Since these budgets come from taxpayers’ money, everyone deserves answers and solutions. Clear and timely explanations from BMA administrators are essential, but continuous public oversight is also critical to prevent waste due to corruption, inefficiency, or neglect by authorities.
Furthermore, the ACT chairman proposed guidelines for public monitoring, starting with jointly learning about projects and expenditures focusing on at least six key points:
1. Whether the projects deliver benefits and value as intended.
2. Whether the projects have been completed according to plan.
3. Whether the projects have achieved the planned efficiency.
4. Whether maintenance has been conducted properly according to standards.
5. Whether officials’ operations have been effective and justify the investments.
6. Whether there are concerns about corruption or conflicts of interest in any stage, including procurement, maintenance, and staff performance. Incomplete or underused projects imply wasted resources and harm to the public.
All this information and these questions should be analyzed and lessons learned, with preventive measures established—especially to close corruption loopholes—before further massive investments. Cooperation in addressing these issues now will benefit everyone and avoid future suffering and blame.
“The governor’s allocation of substantial budgets and investment directions reflects BMA’s commitment to flood prevention. However, ensuring actual effectiveness in spending and project completion without delays that cause public hardship is crucial. It is time for BMA administrators to urgently monitor these projects before setting new flood prevention budgets for Bangkok in the near future.”
