Issues of public Participation under the Royal Decree on Integrated Area-Based Management B.E. 2565 (2022))

Abstract

This article aims to study the problem of public participation in the preparation of provincial and provincial group development plans under the royal decree on integrated Area Administration B.E. 2565 (2022) this provides an opportunity for public participation in the development of the area, aiming to address issues and meet the needs of the community. Specifically, the method employed to survey public opinion in the affected regions is insufficient to encompass the entire community, thereby failing to adequately capture the needs and concerns of the populace. Moreover, the decree limits public participation solely to the opinion-survey phase, without extending opportunities for involvement in other critical stages such as in the formulation of the development plans or in the monitoring and evaluation of provincial and multi-provincial projects. This limitation not only curtails the rights of the citizens to participate.
Therefore, it is proposed that the Royal Decree on Integrated Area Administration B.E. 2565 (2022) be amended so that provincial and multi-provincial bodies collaborate with local government organizations in gathering public opinion, ensuring that the process effectively addresses the community’s needs. In addition, the thesis recommends enhancing public participation further by granting citizens a more active role, or even decision-making power, in the formulation of development plans as well as in the monitoring and evaluation of provincial and multi-provincial projects, thereby fostering genuine public involvement in regional development.