August 2018 : NLA passed 2019 Fiscal Budget Bill NLA passed 2019 fiscal budget bill Cabinet approved Primary Health Care draft bill 100-200 baht/month cash allowance to state welfare card holders 7 Human Rights Commissioners nominated Chawmai Beach-Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park to enroll ASEAN Heritage Parks Baht 300 million for community public health Employment of disabled persons rose in public agents Southern Economic Corridor scheme to start in 4 provinces NLA passed 2019 fiscal budget bill baht 3 trillion On 30th August, the National Legislative Assembly voted on its third reading with 206 with two abstentions to endorse the 3.3 trillion-baht 2019 fiscal budget bill effective on 1st October 2018. Among the top allocated ministries, the largest slice—297.35 billion baht went to the Education Ministry. Secondly, 117.58 billion baht to the Defense Ministry. Following were the Interior Ministry 43.92 billion baht and the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry 25.47 billion baht. The government’s Pracharat program, people-state partnerships where all sectors of society unite to strengthen the country and boost the economy at a local level, was allocated with 40,000 million baht Cabinet approved Primary Health Care draft bill On 28th August, the Cabinet resolved on the Primary Health Care draft Bill with principles to set up a primary health care panel chairs by the public health minister to supervise public health policy and designate criteria for providing primary health medical checkup. The public health permanent secretary will be core leader in mobilizing implementation of all agencies and stimulate public participation. All Thais will be endowed with rights to receive qualitative and fair primary health care services or rights to receive health care services according to welfare or rights given by law. There will be common standards for all primary health care units nationwide. Primary health care principle is to promote health and wellness and seek to prevent injuries and illness. It’s also about extending the reach of health care providers into communities. Components of primary health care are public education, proper nutrition, clean water and sanitation, maternal and child health care, immunization, accessible to treatment and drug provision. It is anticipated after a decade of implementation, services cost will be more than 50,000 million baht but medical cost will reduce up to 227,570 million baht. 100-200 baht cash allowance per month to state welfare card holders On 28th August, the Cabinet resolved on an allowance of 100-200 baht cash per month to state welfare card holders. Normally, these registered low-income earners are entitled to welfare cards worth between 1,200 to 1,800 baht a month to buy basic commodities from the government endorsed Blue Flag shops and allowances for the use of public transport; bus, MRT and BTS systems. The additional 100-200 baht cash can be withdrawn from the government’s bank Krung Thai from September to December and unused cash can be accumulated in the account. 7 Human Rights Commissioners nominated On 21st August, the selection panel for Human Rights Commission nominated 7 out of 29 candidates. They are: Mrs. Somsri Hananantasuk coordinator civil network for police reform. Mr. Pairote Polpetch president EnLaw Thai Foundation. Mr. Chaturon Boonyaratanasunthorn chairman Master of Social Work Program in Social Welfare Administration, Huachiew Chalermprakiat University. Mr. Boontan Tansuthepweerawong secretarial Foundation for Human Rights and Development. Ms. Pittakarn Sithidej director-general Rights and Liberties Protection Department, Justice Ministry. Ms. Pornprapai Kanchananarin former ambassador at the Hague, Netherlands. Mr. Surapol Kongchantuek commissioner Policy to Promote Democracy, Thai Public broadcasting Service. The seven nominees will be forwarded to be endorsed by the National Legislative Assembly. They must receive at least 50 per cent of the votes. Chawmai Beach-Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park to ASEAN Heritage Parks On 21st August, the Cabinet endorsed the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry proposal to enroll Chao Mai Beach and Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park Province to become ASEAN Heritage Park. Chao Mai Beach National Park was established in 1981, acquires a total area of 230,8678 sq.km. in Trang Province. It stretches for 120 km. and is a stronghold for the threatened Dugong or Sea Cow, one of the reserved animals of Thailand. Mu Ko Ang Thong is a marine national park in the Gulf of Thailand in Surat Thani Province. It covers 42 islands in a total area of 102 sq.km., of which about 50 sq.km. is land and the rest is water. The park was established on 12 November 1980. A total of four area in Thailand have been listed as ASEAN Heritage Parks. They are 1. Khao Yai National Marine Park, 2. Tarutao National Park 3. Ao Pnang-Nga Bay-Mu Ko Surin-Mu Ko Similan National Park and 4. Kaeng Krachan-Kui Buri and Pachee River Wildlife Sanctury. The Association for Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Heritage Parks is representative of efforts to conserve areas of particular biodiversity importance or exceptional uniqueness throughout ASEAN member states. The ASEAN Ministers of Environment cooperatively signed the ASEAN Declaration on Heritage Parks on 18 December 2003. Baht 300 million for community public health On 21st August, the Cabinet approved an allocation of 373,834,500 baht from the central budget to the public health programs. 179,664,300 baht, 53,260,200 baht and 140,910,000 baht will be used to promote community hygiene, public health and sustainable development of Tambon hospitals respectively. Employment of disabled persons rose in public agents On 14th August, the Cabinet acknowledged the Social Development and Human Security report on law enforcement of employment of disabled persons in public offices in regards to the updated versions in 2007 and 2010 of the original Rehabilitation of the Disabled Persons Act (1991). The law mandates both public and private organizations with more than 100 employees to hire persons with disabilities in the ratio of one disabled person to every one hundred regular employees (1:100). Failing to do so, agents must provide certain vending space or contribute to the State Fund for Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons Fund on an annual basis. In 2016, a total of 2,801 disabled persons were employed in all state agents equivalent to 18.11 per cent of total disabled employment and rose to 5,828 or 45.05 percent and 10,031 or 80.25 per cent in 2017 and 2018 respectively. This reflects public agents are the leader among all agencies in law compliance. Southern Economic Corridor scheme to start in 4 provinces On 21st August, the Cabinet resolved on the kick-start of the Southern Economic Corridor starting in four provinces; Chumphorn, Ranong, Surat Thani and Nakorn Srithammarat. The scheme covers a high-speed rail network, a double-track rail system, road construction and an upgrade of Ranong port. Among the urgent pilot projects, Ranong port will be upgrade to facilitate shipments to Myanmar, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. A double-track rail system will be constructed to connect Chumphon and Ranong with the Special Eastern Economic Zone. Surat Thani and Nakorn Srithamarat will be developed for agriculture productions and processing. Coastal area from Phetchburi to Chumphon will be promoted for tourism and sport under the Thai Riviera Project.