No more floods in next 5 years: Virabongsa

 "I took this job as a Thai who wants to help the homeland country. My job is to assure local and foreign investors on the reconstruction of the country for higher competitiveness. Within a year from now, the confidence will be restored and in five years, there would be no more disaster," he told reporters after the appointment.
 Virabongsa, former deputy prime minister, noted that the disaster is more serious than in 1942 and too serious for any government to handle, given that flood-hit areas contribute one third of the economy and house manufacturing centres.

"It saddened me as floods in Pathum Thani caused a cut in global production of Toyota and Honda. The inundated manufacturing areas are not significant only to Thailand but to the world, and it's our duty (to take care of the areas). Our job is to assure that next year, this would not reoccur. And we must achieve it, as assurance to local and foreign investors," he said.

 Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra unveiled the strategies to rehabilitate the Kingdom, which involve rescue efforts as well as short and long-term strategies.
 For the rescue efforts which include the provision of shelters, Pol Gen Pracha Promnok will be in charge.
 The medium-term strategy is to help people in flood-hit areas, where water drainage is complete or near completion. This will involve the extension of financial assistance and reconstruction of damaged infrastructure. Interior Minister Yongyuth Vichaidit will be in charge.
 In the long term, aside from the committee led by Virabongsa, there is one committee led by Sumet Tantivejkul, secretary-general of the Chaipattana Foundation, in charge of water management system.