The promotion was announced following an order issued by the Ministry of Interior.issued on Tuesday (Mar 4).
Mr Ronnarong travelled to Bangkok on Friday (Mar 7) to prepare for his new role, which he will officially begin tomorrow (Mar 10).
The Phuket News was told that a replacement for Mr Ronnarong has not yet been announced.
At this stage neither of the other two Phuket Vice Governors, Adul Chuthong and Samawit Suphanphai, have been ordered to transfer.
Mr Ronnarong expressed his gratitude to the new position that he received.
“I am delighted and grateful for the trust my superiors have placed in me by assigning me to this position,” he told The Phuket News.
“In the past, it depended on the judgment of my superiors. Being a Vice Governor of Phuket was something I never asked for. When my superiors saw that I should take on the role of Vice Governor, I accepted,” he explained.
“And when they ordered me to return and help work at DOPA, I was happy to go back and do that again,” he continued.
“However, no matter where I work or what position I hold, I work for the people and for the country,” he added.
Mr Ronnarong arrived in Phuket on Oct 1 last year. Before coming to Phuket, he was previously Inspector-General of the DOPA.
During his brief tenure of just over five months in Phuket, Mr Ronnarong was actively involved in addressing several major cases affecting the province.
His efforts have included overseeing an investigation of a teacher accused in a kindergarten beating case, leading inspections of commercial fishing boats to combat human trafficking, and confirming corruption charges against three Phuket mayors.
Reflecting on his albeit short term as a Vice Governor of Phuket, Mr Ronnarong, said, “I have come to realise that Phuket is a wonderful place to live. The locals are kind-hearted people.
“The area of the province is small, and the land is limited. There are only three districts, with a population of about 400,000 registered households. However, there are hundreds of thousands of unregistered people, which makes the issues more complicated.
“Nonetheless, the people of Phuket continue to help one another within the province, which I am impressed by,” he said.
In addressing key issues affecting people on the island, Mr Ronnarong noted, “What has impressed me the most is the way the private sector, public sector and various government agencies come together in cooperation to resolve the issues.
“In the future, there may be an opportunity for me to return to Phuket as the Deputy Director-General of the DOPA to work and help take care of the province to make it better,” he added.
“When you consider the number of officials in Phuket responsible for law enforcement compared with the total population, including the hidden population, tourists, migrant workers and those who come seeking both legal and illegal benefits, the situation becomes complex.
“If I receive complaints or coordination requests from Phuket, I may be able to step in and address this matter, since I have gained a clearer understanding of the complex problems currently facing Phuket,” Mr Ronnarong noted.
Mr Ronnarong said he had no idea why his term as Vice Governor was so brief, as most Vice Governor postings are for at least one year, usually a full two years.
“In this case, three Deputy Director-General positions at DOPA were vacant. The commander made the decision and selected the most suitable people to oversee and support the department’s operations,” Mr Ronnarong said.