Draft ministerial regulation No…(B.E...) based on the content of the Use of Highways and Bridges by Motor Vehicles Act of B.E. 2497 (1954)
Following the Ministry of Transport’s recommendation, the Cabinet approved the principle of the draft ministerial regulation, No.. (B.E...) based on the content of the Use of Highways and Bridges by Motor Vehicles Act of B.E. 2497. The draft is to be considered further by the Council of the State before further proceedings.
Transport Ministry contended that all vehicle fees on the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge, spanning across Kong River from the National Highway Route No. 2 (Saraburi-Nongkhai) or from Km. 9+848.870 to Km. 11+022.870, be exempt. This free transit between the two countries, including Udornthani-Nongkhai-Viangchan bus route, would essentially reinforce positive agreement on the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge (signed on 2 April 1994). In this connection, the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge Joint-commission on Policy, Management and Maintenance has held a meeting where both parties were in agreement to free such a restriction.
Determined to cancel out section 4 of the draft regulation, No. 18 B.E. 2540 (1997) based on the content of the Use of Highways and Bridges by Motor Vehicles Act of B.E. 2497 (1054) in order to exempt vehicle fees as follows:
1. Public vehicles operating across Thailand-Laos border
2. Public vehicles operating on Udornthani-Nongkhai-Viangchan route
The Cabinet approved Ministry of Foreign Affairs to support the implementation within Mekong Institute with the budget worth 10 million BHT. The project will commence in the fiscal year 2013 onwards. In this connection, the Bureau of the Budget has already proposed the budget plan for fiscal year 2013 to the Foreign Ministry in preparation for the said initiative.
The Cabinet approved of measures introduced by Finance Minister, Chairman of the Board of the public debt management policy, as follows:
1. Approved the 4th improvement of the public debt management plan for fiscal year 2012 with added budget of 16,439.24 million BHT, or from 2,262,039.48 to 2,278,478.72 BHT.
2. Approved the loan scheme for restructuring the government and loan guarantees to public enterprises under the management plan for fiscal year 2012.
3. Approved the Finance Ministry to appropriate loan conditions and other details for loan guarantees under current public debt management plan for fiscal year 2012. In the case where an enterprise is able to loan without further assistance, it will be solely up to the Finance Ministry’s discretion, and it should consider such situations on a case-by-case basis.
The Cabinet acknowledged the protection and prevention measures on the Enterovirus diseases, following the Ministry of Public Health announcement and requested other ministries to collaborate accordingly.
Ministry of Public Health reported that due to the epidemic of the hand, foot and mouth disease caused by Entero 71 virus, the situation has escalated and caused some consternation in the central and southern region of Cambodia. The epidemic has caused respiratory diseases as well as encephalitis. As of 13 July 2012, there were 61 patients, of whom, 54 have died, with the majority made up of patients ages between 11 months and 3 years old. Cambodia has come up with prevention measures by focusing on preventive health care on children. In spite of the situation, the WHO has yet to restrict the patients’ mobility. As far as Thailand is concerned, there are at least 12,581 patients in the past 7 months or 9.8 patients in every 100,000. There has not been any death as yet. There is however one serious patient found in the province of Nan. Though the Entero virus is generally found in children and causes symptoms such as mild fever, blisters and sores around the mouth and throat, skin, hands, feet and buttocks. In some cases however, it could lead to severe conditions related to repiratory and nervous system, encephalitis or inflammation of the heart muscle. In some instances, it may cause death. This disease is usually transmitted by direct contact, via saliva, feces or nasal discharge, blisters and ulcers of patients.
1. Employed intensive surveillance measures to prevent and control the spread of the disease.
2. Charged doctors in the public and private hospitals, especially in the risk-prone areas.
3. Prevent serious complications of the disease, particularly to those patients without obvious symtomps.
4. Educate the public about the disease as well as hygiene; instruct them to frequently wash hands and seek the doctor if curious of any said symtomps.
5. Instructed provinces with more than 10 patients each day to open up an operation center (War room) in the province and invite the governor to preside over the opening.
6. Submitted a document of cooperation to Bangkok Governor, Permanent Secretary of Interior Ministry, Defence Ministry, Social Development and Human Security Ministry, Education Ministry, Tourism and Sports Ministry and the association of private hospital to be mindful of the disease and help to prevent further outbreak in various location including, child care centers and schools.
The Cabinet acknowledged and approved the following proposal by the Foreign Ministry:
1. Approved of the Joint-statement of Thailand-France
2. Approved the Prime Minister to address the joint statement with the French counterpart.
3. Granted permission to the Foreign Ministry to alter any non-essential contents without further approval.
The joint-statement expresses the determination of the two nations to strengthen relations as strategic partners. Thailand-France Joint-Action Plan No.2 is seen as a mechanism to promote mutual benefits of the two countries in their bilateral, regional and international boundary, which encompass various dimensions such as politics, economy, security as well as education. The joint-statement also touches upon the agreement in technology and the transfer of knowledge, including the French expertise on aircraft rails and energy. In addition, the statement will also address political and economic stability of Thailand, which would prove fundamental to the expansion of economic relations between the two countries.
--Cabinet Meeting (Yingluck Shinawatra) July 17, 2012--