In an attempt to help low income earners facing current
economic hardship, Thailand’s Ministry of Finance plans to ask the Cabinet
to extend three economic assistance programs for another six months until
the end of December.
Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij said he would ask the
Cabinet during its weekly meeting that government economic assistance
programs be extended as the current government assistance was due to expire
Wednesday.
The government allocated Bt4.54 billion to the programs
during the extended three-month program which ran from April 1 through June
30.
The planned extension, according to Ekniti Nitithanprapas,
macroeconomic adviser to the Fiscal Policy Office, requires the government
to allocate some Bt8 billion for the programs.
Under the present assistance programs, about eight
million households using less that 90 units of electricity per month enjoy
the benefit as they do not need to pay for electricity, passengers can
travel free on about 800 buses traveling on 73 routes in the capital and
passengers can travel free on 172 third-class trains daily.
Korn also said he will confer with his deputy, Man
Pattanothai, this week on Man’s proposal to reduce retail oil prices by Bt2
per liter.
Man proposed that retail oil prices be lowered if
finished oil products are imported as oil refinery costs are still high in
Thailand.
But Korn said he believed the current strong Thai baht
could offset costs of imported oil while oil prices globally would not be
much different if they carry the same standards.
The government’s subsidy program includes breaks on water
and electricity bills. Numerous people also benefit from free bus and train
services. (TNA)
