Bangkok: Parit Wacharasindhu, a party-list MP and deputy leader of the People's Party, has announced that the 2027 budget will prioritize cost-effectiveness, with particular attention given to high-budget projects such as the TH-AI Passport. He emphasized that the upcoming debate on the budget bill, scheduled from June 29th to July 1st, will address these concerns.
According to Thai News Agency, Parit outlined the preparations for the debate, stating that time allocation for the budget bill discussions will be coordinated with opposition parties. This coordination aims to ensure a fair distribution of speaking time among MPs, consistent with previous practices. Parit underscored the importance of evaluating the budget's value for money, considering it is funded by taxpayers' contributions. He stressed the necessity for the budget to address the needs of the people, focusing on overall budget allocations for each ministry and scrutinizing projects with exceptionally high budgets or questionable transparency.
Parit also mentioned his observations regarding the TH-AI Passport Phase 1 project, noting that it did not utilize budget funds but rather a separate fund. He confirmed that, following discussions with the Permanent Secretary at the Budget Monitoring Committee meeting, Phase 2 of the TH-AI Passport will be included in the draft Budget Act of 2027. This project, among others, will be a focal point during the upcoming budget debate.