Nonthaburi: "Supamas" has instructed the Consumer Protection Board to intensify its efforts following the receipt of two prestigious government awards in 2026. The focus is on promoting the "Pee Pakpong" (Older Sibling Protects) system to enhance consumer protection initiatives.
According to Thai News Agency, the directive came after the Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB) was honored with two awards at the 2026 Public Sector Excellence Awards ceremony held at the Royal Jubilee Ballroom, Challenger Building, IMPACT Muang Thong Thani, Nonthaburi Province. Mr. Ronnarong Poolpipat, Secretary-General of the Consumer Protection Board, and Ms. Charassri Thanitiphan, Director of the Administrative System Development Group, accepted the awards.
Ms. Supamas Isarabhakdi, Minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office, emphasized the need for the OCPB to expand its award-winning work to encompass all channels for handling public complaints. This aligns with Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's policy to streamline government services, reduce waiting times, and enhance accessibility for the public. Ms. Isarabhakdi stressed that the awards are not the ultimate goal, but rather a reflection of the system's direction. The focus should be on providing prompt and effective assistance to consumers who have suffered harm.
The Consumer Protection Board received the Public Service Award, Level Good, in the tangible results category for its Smart Consumer Care by 'Pee Pokpong' project. This project offers online consumer advice, enabling consumers to inquire about their rights and complaint procedures without needing to visit the office. Additionally, the CPB was awarded the Public Management Quality Award (PMQA) in a specific category for its work in Organizational Leadership and Social Responsibility.
Ms. Suphamas expressed gratitude to the CPB staff for their efforts that led to the recognition but emphasized that an award does not signify the completion of their work. She urged the CPB to implement the 'Brother Protect' system in their operations across all channels and report the results numerically each month.
The Minister instructed the CPB to expand the "Brother Protects" service to cover all public contact channels, including the CPB hotline 1166, the OCPB Connect application, and the office's website. She also directed the development of an AI chatbot system to provide more comprehensive answers and facilitate data linkage with relevant agencies. This integration aims to expedite the forwarding of cases outside the CPB's jurisdiction to the appropriate agencies, collaborating with the Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and other regulatory bodies.
Mr. Ronnarong Poolpipat stated that the Board plans to use the Civil Service Commission's evaluation criteria to improve complaint handling and follow-up procedures. Meanwhile, Ms. Suphamas thanked the Consumer Organizations Council for representing the public and highlighting consumer issues to government agencies.
She urged the public to report problems instead of keeping them to themselves. If a product does not match its description, is misleadingly advertised, has an unfair contract, or is unsafe, consumers should retain the receipt, product photos, and conversations with the seller and file a complaint. "One complaint you make could help thousands of others," said Ms. Suphamas.