Bangkok: The Prime Minister has introduced a draft bill seeking to transfer 10,328 million baht from the national budget to Parliament, aiming to utilize unspent funds for emergencies or necessary situations to tackle economic, social, security, and environmental challenges. The Prime Minister urged Members of Parliament to agree with the proposal, emphasizing the government's commitment to using the funds efficiently and transparently.
According to Thai News Agency, during a special session of the House of Representatives, which was chaired by Speaker Sophon Samram, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul presented a bill concerning the transfer of budget appropriations. The purpose of this bill is to redirect certain budget items from the 2026 fiscal year budget of various government entities to the central budget's reserve fund for emergencies and necessities. The total amount proposed for transfer is 10,328,065,100 baht. This move is deemed necessary due to the economic and social crisis Thailand faces, influenced by both domestic and international factors, affecting citizens' livelihoods and the overall economy. The government is tasked with addressing, restoring, and mitigating the effects of this crisis urgently.
Previously, the government had relied on the central budget's emergency reserve fund to address such issues. However, the allocated budget of 99,000,000,000 baht proved insufficient due to other potential emergencies and disasters anticipated in the 2026 fiscal year. This situation necessitates the transfer of certain budget items from the 2026 Fiscal Year Act to the central budget's emergency reserve fund to cover expenses related to addressing, restoring, and mitigating the impact of such crises and other emergencies or urgent needs.
The Prime Minister explained that the proposed Budget Transfer Act has two main objectives: first, to reallocate the 2026 annual budget of budget-receiving agencies, which are unlikely to complete operations within the fiscal year or can be delayed, totaling 10,328,065,100 baht, to the central budget as a reserve fund for emergencies or necessary expenses. Second, the Act aims to be a tool for addressing security, economic, social, and environmental problems, as well as other emergencies or urgent needs that may arise towards the end of the 2026 fiscal year, serving as an important tool for efficient and effective government administration in response to evolving situations.
The government asserts that the Annual Budget Transfer Act aligns with the state's fiscal discipline framework, enabling efficient and flexible management of the 2026 annual budget, allowing for timely responses to evolving situations and maximizing benefits for the nation and its people.
Additionally, the draft budget transfer bill complies with Section 35, paragraph one, of the Budget Procedures Act B.E. 2561 (2018), which stipulates that budget expenditures of a budget-receiving unit cannot be transferred or used by another unit unless an Act permits such transfer or use. The Prime Minister highlighted that the draft budget transfer bill involves transferring budget expenditures for the fiscal year 2026, in accordance with the criteria and guidelines for budget transfers as per the Cabinet resolution of June 2nd. The budget and items included in this transfer are current expenditures in all budget categories not yet disbursed and without obligations, or where obligations can be postponed, and capital expenditures in all budget categories deemed unnecessary and can be canceled or delayed without causing damage to the government.
The government considered the management of expenditure budgets in the third and fourth quarters of the fiscal year, aligning with fundamental state policies necessary for providing public services, supporting expenses, rights, and welfare to create social justice, and creating jobs and income at the local level. The draft Transfer of Expenditure Budget Act B.E.... totals 10,328,065,100 baht and is categorized into expenditure budget of budget-receiving units: 9,039,794,900 baht; and integrated expenditure budget: 1,288,270,200 baht. Once enacted, budget-receiving units can request allocation of the reserve fund for emergency expenses to carry out urgent missions in accordance with regulations on the management of the central budget, reserve funds for emergencies or necessities B.E. 2562 (2019).
The Prime Minister concluded by expressing hope that all members will support and accept the draft bill's principles, enabling the government to use the national budget to address urgent needs efficiently and transparently, achieving tangible results for the nation. He then submitted the draft Budget Transfer Act B.E. ... to the House of Representatives for consideration according to the agenda.