UPDATE: The PLTO later confirmed that the lucky licence plate auction on July 6 raised B39,294,465.
Ms Buppha delivered the news at the Royal Phuket City Hotel, before the auction for lucky licence plates featuring the Thai letters ขจ (KorJor) got underway.
Joining the event were Adcha Buachan, chief of the Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO), along with some heads of government agencies, representatives from the private sector and members of the media.
Funds raised by Land Transport offices throughout the country by auctioning off lucky licence plates go to the Department of Land Transport’s ‘Road Safe Fund’.
Since 2009, the fund has used a portion of the income from the auction of special licence plates to finance equipment for disabled individuals, Ms Buppa explained.
A working group meticulously screens requests for the allocation of funds to provide necessary equipment to the disabled victims of road accidents, she said.
The aim is to help them lead better lives by providing standard quality equipment suited to their physical conditions. The initiative also aims to boost morale and provide encouragement to these individuals.
Between 2009 and 2022, 80 disabled individuals in Phuket received assistance worth a total of B4,112,500, Ms Buppa noted.
In 2023, the committee, including representatives from the PLTO, Vachira Phuket Hospital, Phuket Public Health Office (PPHO) and the Phuket Provincial Social Development and Human Security Office, approved the allocation of funds to assist four more individuals.
The total budget for this year’s assistance was B319,500, covering various essential equipment such as standard wheelchairs, cushions to prevent pressure sores, and prosthetic legs.
This continued support underscores the commitment of the Department of Land Transport to improve the quality of life for disabled individuals affected by road accidents, ensuring they receive the necessary tools to aid their daily living and enhance their overall well-being, Ms Buppa said.
Of note, proceeds from the PLTO lucky licence plate auction in July last year raised B915,000 in one bid alone. The full amount raised by the auction was not disclosed.
One bid early in the auction today was for B257,000.