Mr Saroj led a delegation to Government House to deliver the formal request on Friday (Jan 19), reports national state news agency NNT.
The letter urged the transformation of Phuket City Municipality into a special local government organisation. The letter, presented at the Naree Samoson Building at Government House, was received by Prime Minister Settha, who in turn promptly assigned the request to Deputy Prime Minister Somsak Thepsuthin to review.
Deputy Prime Minister Somsak is also Chairman of the Decentralisation to Local Administrative Organisations Committee. Joining Mr Somsak in receiving the quest were Mongkolchai Somudorn, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Office, and Anu Yaemsaeng, Director of the Office of the Decentralisation to Local Administrative Organisations Committee (DLOC).
The DLOC operates under the Office of the Permanent Secretary, at the Prime Minister’s Office.
In addition to submitting the formal request, Mayor Saroj presented a comprehensive research report, including a management research project and spatial development guidelines, that was created in collaboration with the King Prajadhipok’s Institute.
The report identified and summarised issues that Phuket City Municipality was struggling to address due to its limited structure and budget support. The report highlighted the need for a specialised approach, as the current budget constraints were deemed insufficient to address the many, varied challenges faced by Phuket City Municipality in its quest to ensure Phuket Town was developed into a ‘world-class tourist destination’.
The proposed strategy for Phuket City Municipality outlined three key dimensions: first, as a city of care for all people; second, as a city fostering craft culture; and third, as a city of creativity. The detailed report included plans for providing public services in alignment with these dimensions.
Deputy Prime Minister Somsak expressed support for the initiative. He conveyed the policy of the DLOC, and emphasised the potential establishment of special forms of local government organisations in specific areas or cities, each tasked with a unique mission and powers tailored to their distinctive characteristics.
Through the Determining Plan and Process of Decentralization Act B.E.2542 (1999), the DLOC has identified five pilot areas with the potential for special forms of local government organisations, NNT noted in its report.
The five were listed as:
- Suvarnabhumi aviation hub city group
- Tourist City Group (Koh Samui)
- Historical and cultural city group (Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya-Sukhothai)
- Industrial and logistics city cluster (Laem Chabang-Map Ta Phut)
- Border trading town group (Mae Sot)
The decentralisation plan aims to increase the efficiency of public services and activities in a unique way, boosting the role and capacity of local government organisations, the report explained.
The goal is to develop local government organisations that are ready and have the potential to be special forms of local government within specific areas, rather than covering the entire province.
The push to elevate Phuket City Municipality to the status of a special local government organisation or a special city, "Phuket City" stands as a crucial mechanism for its development, the report added.
“This initiative not only addresses the city’s immediate problems but also positions it strategically in dimensions of care, craft and culture, and creativity. As the wheels of transformation are set in motion, Phuket City looks toward a future where it can more aptly respond to the needs and expectations of its residents,” the report concluded.