Suspended Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha visited Ayutthaya province to inspect flood prevention while his deputy Prawit Wongsuwon, now the acting premier, is touring provinces to inspect water management.
Gen Prayut, who stil holds the cabinet defence porrtfolio, on Friday morning went to Wat Kasatrathirat Worawihan in Phra Nakhon Sri Ayutthaya district of Ayutthaya.
Gen Prayut visited soldiers from nine battalions who have been raising embankments and stacking sandbags at the temple.
While there he was briefed on the condition of the Chao Phraya River, which is carrying the flood surge from annual heavy rains in the North.
He also met soldiers increasing embankments along the river to protect historical sites, including ancient temples.
Gen Prayut was making his first upcountry trip as defence minister since being suspended from working as prime minister by the Constitutional Court until it rules on the issue of his tenure in office.
The prime ministerial role is meanwhile in the hands of Deputy Prime Minister Prawit. He is scheduled to visit the southern province of Krabi on Monday to inspect local water management and oil palm schemes.
On Thursday Gen Prawit went to Chachoengsao province, also to inspect water management.
Gen Prawit, as deputy prime minister, chairs the national water management committee.