Bangkok: Supanart Meenchainan, a Member of Parliament for Bangkok from the Prachachon Party and Secretary of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Economic Development, has announced plans to request an additional one-month extension for submitting earthquake compensation requests. This move comes in response to public dissatisfaction over inadequate compensation payouts for earthquake damages.
According to Thai News Agency, Supanart highlighted issues with the current compensation process, revealing that some individuals who suffered significant financial losses received minimal compensation amounts. He mentioned that only those with damage similar to the State Audit Office building were eligible for the maximum compensation of 49,000 baht. Supanart criticized the current system for its lack of alignment with actual damages and urged for a review of the criteria used to assess compensation.
Supanart explained that the existing regulations, which determine compensation disbursements, could be amended immediately with a minister’s signature, as they are not bound by an Act of Parliament. He emphasized the need for compensation to cover some labor costs and suggested setting a minimum compensation amount to account for operating expenses incurred during the claims process.
In addressing the timeline for claims submission, Supanart noted that the deadline for current submissions is April 27th but advocated for an extension to allow more affected individuals to file their claims. He expressed concern that inadequate compensation amounts might dissuade individuals from submitting claims, and called for adjustments to be made to the criteria to better reflect the actual damages experienced by claimants.
Supanart also acknowledged logistical challenges faced by civil servants tasked with assessing damages, suggesting that video submissions could expedite the process, particularly in cases of minor damage. He highlighted disparities in application volumes across districts, which affected the speed of the assessment process.
In addition to his role on the Economic Development Committee, Supanart has been actively engaging with media and government agencies to push for changes in the compensation process. He referenced ongoing investigations into the collapse of the Office of the Auditor General’s building, which are being led by his party colleague, Mr. Surachet Prawinwongwut.
Supanart concluded by advocating for a streamlined submission process for future compensation claims, emphasizing the need for online submissions and reducing the number of required documents. He stressed the importance of aligning government compensation with the actual damages incurred by citizens to ensure timely and fair financial assistance.