Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt has given himself 5 out of 10 for his performance during his first year in office, saying that, of the 226 policies that were outlined during his election campaign, 211 have been implemented.
Speaking to the media on his first anniversary in office Tuesday, Chadchart explained that, if he had given himself more than 5 out of 10, it would be more difficult for him to make improvements. He also thanked his staff for their cooperation and support in turning policies into action.
He said that he envisages a change in the working style of city officials, to be more people-centred, by improving their efficiency, starting with the administrators, through the application of technology and information and embracing transparency and seeking cooperation from all stakeholders.
He admitted that there are some policies on which his administration has not performed well, which includes the urban economy and the development of 11 fresh markets.
The most challenging problem faced during his first year in office, said the governor, was corruption, adding that if it cannot be tackled to the satisfaction of the public, his administration will lose their support and confidence.
The governor said that not all the policies could be implemented in his first year because some of them are long-term and large, such as the water drainage tunnel in Nong Bon, requiring an estimated 4.9 billion baht in investment, the expansion of the Ramkhamhaeng 24 road, the renovation of the Central Hospital, estimated to cost 4 billion baht, the construction of a new incinerator, a project estimated to cost about 4.4 billion baht, and the extension of the Green Line electric train project from Bang Wa to Taling Chan.
He said that his administration has experimented news concept for health and educational services, such as Bangkok health zoning, which could not be implemented immediately.
Some of the policies already implemented, according to the governor, include:
- Of over 300,000 complaints lodged through “Traffy Fondue” system by Bangkok residents, over 200,000 have been resolved and more than 60,000 have been forwarded to other agencies to deal with.
- More than 11,400 LED electric bulbs have been installed to replace 28,000 malfunctioning bulbs, with the remainder to be replaced in the next two months.
- Over 221km of pedestrian pavements have been resurfaced and more than 7,115km of drains unclogged.
- More than 6,400 people and businesses have participated in the garbage separation program, resulting in a reduction of 300-700 tonnes a day, and more than 130,000 cars have been checked for their emissions.
- The value of free lunches for school children has been increased from 20 to 32 baht a day and about 21,000 computers have been provided to 437 schools.
