Getting over the Covid crisis is the big challenge for mayor Pongsak YingchoncharoenMayor of Yala City municipality Pongsak YingchoncharoenMayor of Yala City municipality Pongsak Yingchoncharoen has more than 17 years of experience in managing the city once severely affected by the southern conflict. Combining the municipality's strengths, particularly its world-class city design, the mayor's experience and vision together, it would not be overly optimistic to say that Yala City Municipality will soon be back on its feet and stronger than ever. He said Yala City municipality had been affected by southern violence for more than 20 years before the situation became less tense a decade ago. "The Yala City municipality has a total area of 19 square kilometres with a population of 60,000 people [as of 2019]," he said. Yala City will represent Thailand to hopefully receive the Asean Environmentally Sustainable Cities (ESC) Award 2021, he said.

Source: Bangkok Post October 11, 2020 23:15 UTC