Traffic, road accidents and drug use among youths were the top issues that need more focus in Pattaya’s four-year development plan, city leaders agreed at a Jan. 23 Strategy and Budget Committee meeting.
Deputy Mayor Sukwat Suksawat chaired the session with city council members Saksit Yaemsri and Choluek Chotekamjorn, community leaders and department chiefs to discuss amendments to the 2017-2021 development plan adopted last year.
Administrators agreed more emphasis needs to be placed on improving traffic and road accidents, particularly on Koh Larn. Poor driving by both private motorists and motorcycle taxis was cited, as well as the role of dilapidated roads in road accidents.
Teerasak Jatupong, director of Pattaya’s Peace and Security Maintenance Department, called the budget allocated to drug-use prevention among youths insufficient.
He said drug-use prevention currently is funded by the Teacher’s Care Project, but youths need to be better educated on how their actions and drug use affects the future of the country.
He said students need to be trained better to avoid exploitation and given more alternatives in how to spend their free time.
Wirat Joyjinda, chairman of Soi Korphai Community, which runs an award-winning anti-drug program, said the key to success is fostering cooperation between schools, the government and community leaders.
Panelists agreed that the budget for drug prevention should be increased to 12 million baht.
Suggested changes to the development plan will be passed on to the full city council.
