The Cabinet met on Tuesday, April 12, 2016 at Command Building I, Government House. Some of the resolutions are as follows;
As proposed by Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Cabinet agreed on the termination of loan scheme for initial survey on addressing clean water shortage in the villages, which is under the urgent phase of water resources management and road transport: stimulus measure phase 2, for a total budget of 35 million baht.
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment reported that
1. The initial survey to solve clean water shortage at 12,180 villages, with a total budget of 35 million baht, has not been allocated with the operational budget. However, the project is no longer viable as Department of Local Administration has already launched survey on villages that have/haven’t suffered from water shortage across the country to solve the aforementioned problem.
2. At a meeting of concerned agencies, dated December 9, 2015, it was agreed to utilize Department of Local Administration’s survey data as target solution.
The Cabinet acknowledged the Order, no. 15/2016, of Chief of National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) on permission for Myanmar, Lao, and Cambodian migrant workers to go back to country of origin to celebrate Songkran Festival 2016, as proposed by Office of NCPO’s Secretary General. The Order is to promote cordial relations with neighboring countries and boost image of migrant working condition in Thailand. NCPO, thus, made approval for migrant workers to go back to country of origin to celebrate Songkran Festival 2016, as well as for exemption of related fees during this period.
The Cabinet acknowledged on the setting of Criteria and procedures in the operation manual on village capacity enhancement for mobilization of grassroots economy according to People Public Private Partnership (PPPP), as proposed by Ministry of Interior.
Gist of criteria for the proposal of village projects is as follows: 1) Extended projects of the royal-initiated projects and Sufficiency Economy Philosophy, such as Sufficiency Economy Learning Center and watersheds; 2) water resources development projects, such as ponds and dike building and canal dredging; 3) projects on promotion of career, quality of life, and employment, such as herbal curry paste production, food preservation, tourism development; 4) projects on promotion of public health, education, as well as preservation of village’s arts, custom, local wisdoms and culture; 5) repair and restoration of village’s public utilities, such as drainage and roads; 6) projects on natural resources and environment preservation; 7) projects proposed under the five-million-baht per sub-district scheme but were not approved; and 8) projects implemented in restricted areas that require permission to get access to.
Village’s Committee is responsible for organizing village community's meeting for them to take part in proposing projects based on the above criteria; selecting committees on procurement, inspection, and disbursement & accounting; and making report on project progress.
District Office is responsible for approving projects proposed by the villages, keeping an extra copy of all documents, as well as following up and evaluating projects' performances.
Provincial office is responsible for approving budget allocation for projects approved by the district office, and following up on projects' performances.
The Cabinet agreed to the proposals made by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense (Gen Prawit Wongsuwan) as follows:
1. Ministry of Defense is authorized to draft the Agreement between the Kingdom of Thailand and the Russian Federation on Military Cooperation.
2. Ministry of Foreign Affairs is to issue the Full Power for Minister of Defense to endorse the draft Agreement.
3. Should there be any amendment in any non-essential part, Ministry of Defense is authorized to proceed accordingly.
Ministry of Defense reported that
1. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense (Gen Prawit Wongsuwan) is scheduled to visit the Russian Federation to attend the Informal Meeting of the Defense Ministers of ASEAN and Russia, and the 5th Moscow International Conference in Moscow, Russia during April 25-28, 2016. Signing of the draft agreement will be taken place during the period.
1. The Draft Agreement specifies scope of collaboration as follows:
2.1 Exchange of views and information on defense and military strategies that benefit both countries in order to build trust and security, as well as the collaboration on anti-terrorism
2.2 Development of cooperation on training exercises, military education, military medicine, military survey, hydrography, sports and culture
2.3 Sharing of experiences on security and peace under the United Nations' framework
2.4 Cooperation on sea search and rescue
2.5 Cooperation on anti-piracy
2.6 Cooperation on other areas that the two nations have agreed upon
The Cabinet approved the proposals made by Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives as follows:
1. Approved Thailand's participation on Zero Hunger Challenge (ZHC), by closely cooperating with Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
2. Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives is authorized as main agency to implement the project, with the support from other related agencies, in a bid to end hunger and food shortage by 2025.
3. Bureau of Budget is assigned to provide support on budget allocation for implementation of the project. Gist of the project is as follows:
The Zero Hunger Challenge (ZHC) is the project aiming not only to end physical hunger but also to tackle food insecurity and malnutrition, such as protein and energy malnutrition, vitamin and mineral deficiency, especially among low-income earners, children and youth, which are the future generations. Five goals are set for the Zero Hunger Challenge, which must be achieved by 2025. Operational framework is within the Asia Pacific region.
The main goals are as follows 1) 100% access to food and nourishment all year round; 2) ending stunting among children under two years of age; 3) making all food systems more sustainable; 4) doubling productivity and income for smallholder farmers; and 5) reducing food waste and post-harvest losses.
With regard to the operational guideline, an action plan at a national level must be laid out in line with the Asia Pacific framework. FAO is to provide necessary supports on the preparation of the plan, for which cooperation from concerned agencies, i.e., Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Interior, civil society, etc., is needed.
--Cabinet Meeting (Prayut Chan-o-cha) April 12, 2016 --