Deputy Prime Minister Ekniti has elevated disaster preparedness for the central region's 17 provinces and Bangkok by establishing four subcommittees to integrate plans and budgets, conduct risk analysis and assessments, covering all disaster types;
At 13:00 on 13 November 2026 at the Government House, Mr. Ekniti Nitithanprapas, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, in his capacity as chairman of the committee for disaster prevention and mitigation in the central region, chaired the first meeting of 2026 of the Central Region Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Committee. Attending were Mr. Pradorn Pisananantakul and Mr. Napintra Srisanpong, Ministers attached to the Prime Minister’s Office; Mr. Surasak Phanjaroenworakul, Minister of Tourism and Sports; Ms. Chatchadaporn Boonpiranat, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation; provincial governors; representatives from relevant agencies; and regional DPM centers in the central region, participating via electronic media. The meeting aimed to set guidelines for preventing and addressing all types of disasters in the central region.
Mr. Ekniti stated that this meeting advances operations under Prime Minister’s Office Order No. 398/2026 dated 22 October, which appointed five regional disaster prevention and mitigation committees covering all regions nationwide. The management scope has been expanded from focusing solely on floods and droughts to encompassing all types of disasters, enabling relevant agencies to integrate prevention, mitigation, and relief efforts more rapidly and effectively.
At today’s meeting, the committee reviewed disaster risk data for the central region's 17 provinces and Bangkok, noting varying risks depending on geography, including floods, droughts, earthquakes and building collapses, wildfires, haze, PM2.5 dust pollution, as well as hazards from chemicals and dangerous substances. This information will support defining appropriate prevention measures and preparedness tailored to each area. The meeting also considered plans, projects, and budgets for disaster prevention and mitigation from fiscal years 2025–2028 to align resource allocation with local risks and needs. Additionally, the meeting reviewed the establishment of four subcommittees, as follows:
The Subcommittee on Management, Planning, and Budget Screening for Disaster Prevention and Mitigation in the Central Region, chaired by Mr. Pradorn Pisananantakul, Minister attached to the Prime Minister’s Office. This subcommittee is responsible for analyzing and assessing situations, monitoring developments, planning, directing disaster prevention and mitigation operations, and screening budget allocation requests.
The Subcommittee on Disaster Prevention and Mitigation in the Central Region Group 1, responsible for five provinces: Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Samut Songkhram, Phetchaburi, and Prachuap Khiri Khan, chaired by Mr. Napintra Srisanpong, Minister attached to the Prime Minister’s Office.
The Subcommittee on Disaster Prevention and Mitigation in the Central Region Group 2, responsible for eight provinces: Sing Buri, Ang Thong, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Lopburi, Saraburi, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, and Samut Prakan, including Bangkok, chaired by Mr. Surasak Phanjaroenworakul, Minister of Tourism and Sports.
The Subcommittee on Disaster Prevention and Mitigation in the Central Region Group 3, responsible for four provinces: Chai Nat, Suphanburi, Nakhon Pathom, and Samut Sakhon, chaired by Mr. Varawut Silpa-archa, Minister of Industry.
The three regional subcommittees are tasked with developing operational plans and urgent measures including surveillance and early warning, preparedness, emergency management, relief and rehabilitation, as well as public communication to raise awareness. These efforts aim to ensure effective disaster prevention and mitigation tailored to each area’s needs.
The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, acting as the secretariat, will coordinate and integrate work among the four subcommittees, provinces, and relevant agencies. It will also support data provision on disaster situations and risks to ensure planning, preparedness, warnings, and assistance align with local conditions. The goal is to enhance disaster management in the central region comprehensively, covering all disaster types, thereby reducing impacts and losses to life and property.