Discounts, delayed bill payments offered

The products and food items to be discounted are produced by more than 300 factories. Bangkok will be the site of the pilot phase of the project from June 2-4.
Vithoon Simachokdi, permanent secretary of the Industry Ministry, said yesterday that it had ordered its departments and offices to coordinate with manufacturers of consumer goods, foods and other essentials to retail their products at factory prices.
About 300 manufacturers are participating in the ministry's “People’s Outlet” low-price-goods campaign, which covers products worth a combined Bt2 billion, mainly electronic and consumer goods from big producers as well as small and medium-sized enterprises. Consumers are offered discounts of 20-70 per cent.
The campaign will be held at the ministry’s offices in Bangkok first, before being staged in other provinces including Chiang Mai, Nakhon Ratchasima and Songkhla.
Deputy Industry Minister Chatchart Sithiphan said falling global oil prices had seen the price of diesel fall below Bt30 per litre, closing yesterday at Bt29.83. He has ordered the ministry to discuss possible fare reductions on public transport with the Land Transport Committee.
“The May 15 approval for a fare increase for pickup-truck taxis, minibuses and transit buses in response to the recent rise in diesel prices has been withdrawn. Now that the price of diesel has dropped below Bt30, fares will actually be reduced as per an earlier agreement,” Chatchart said.
For buses operating in Bangkok and surrounding areas, the fare was supposed to increase by Bt1 on May 16.
However, it has been confirmed that there will not be any increase because the Energy Policy Administration Committee has agreed to freeze the price of natural gas for vehicles at Bt10.50 for another three months. Metropolitan buses will be given a Bt2 subsidy, in effect keeping the price steady.
Phadung Limcharoenrat, secretary of the Interior Ministry, said that during the new school semester, many parents would face increased costs and might have difficulty making payments. Accordingly, the ministry has set up measures to reduce household expenses. Central and local water offices will allow a three-month payment period for May bills, and payment of electricity bills for May can be delayed for a month.
“These measures will be short-term,” Phadung said. “Parents who need financial help can contact the local electricity and water offices before the due date of their May payments.”