Cabinet assigns new oversight roles

Officials to oversee provinces, agencies

Six deputy prime ministers and four ministers attached to the Prime Minister’s Office have been assigned to supervise regional administration and monitor government performance nationwide, during a special cabinet meeting on Thursday.

At its first meeting after Wednesday’s swearing-in ceremony, the cabinet approved a series of executive orders from the Prime Minister’s Office. The orders officially delegate authority to deputy prime ministers and ministers attached to the office, enabling them to oversee regional administrative operations and supervise key ministries and government agencies.

Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn will oversee Inspection Areas 5 (Chumphon, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Surat Thani) and 6 (Krabi, Trang, Phangnga, Phuket, Ranong, Satun). He will also supervise the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, the Ministry of Energy, the National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA), and the Policy Committee of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC).

Deputy Prime Minister Sophon Zarum has been assigned to oversee Inspection Areas 10, 11, 12, and 14 in a number of northeastern provinces, including Udon Thani, Sakon Nakhon, and Ubon Ratchathani. He will supervise the Labour Ministry; the Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Ministry; the Public Health Ministry; as well as several other agencies, including the Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB), the Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR), the Office of the National Land Policy Board (ONLB), and the Public Relations Department (PRD).

Deputy Prime Minister Borwornsak Uwanno will oversee Inspection Area 5, with a specific focus on Songkhla province. He will oversee the Justice Ministry, the Culture Ministry, the Strategic Transformation Office (STO), the National Office of Buddhism, and other legal affairs agencies.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas will oversee Inspection Area 2, which includes Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Nakhon Pathom, and Samut Prakan. He will also supervise the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Commerce, and the Budget Bureau.

Deputy Prime Minister and Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Capt Thammanat Prompow will manage Inspection Areas 7 (Narathiwat, Pattani, Yala), 15 (Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son, Lampang, Lamphun), and 16 (Chiang Rai, Nan, Phayao, Phrae). The Tourism and Sports Ministry, the Education Ministry, and the Social Development and Human Security Ministry will also fall under his supervision.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Suchart Chomklin will oversee Inspection Areas 8 and 9, which cover the eastern provinces, including Chachoengsao, Chon Buri, Rayong, Chanthaburi, Sa Kaeo, and Trat. He will also oversee the Ministry of Industry.

Ministers attached to the PM’s Office also received assignments.