Desmond Lee
Singapore
“The Leadership, Enrichment, Achievement, Participation and Service (LEAPS) 2.0 is a framework for recognising student participation and achievement in secondary school co-curricular programmes.”
“The Ministry of Education (MOE) is mindful of the impact that rising temperatures may have on our students, teachers and officials taking part in the National School Games. Matches are scheduled only after students have had the time to train and become progressively more heat acclimatised.”
“As shared in Parliament in March 2026, the proportion of students with special educational needs (SEN) in mainstream schools has remained stable, at around 7% of the overall student population. This stability is observed across both primary and secondary schools.”
“The Ministry recruits and assesses applicants based on merit and suitability for the teaching profession, regardless of gender. We look for individuals with a passion for teaching, a belief in the potential of every child, and who possess the values and character to make a positive difference in students' lives.”
“Over the past five years, an average of 750 teachers resigned from the Education Service annually, representing a resignation rate of around 2%.”
“MOE has also progressively strengthened open access within the Primary 1 Registration Framework through Phase 2C, which is open to students regardless of whether they have prior connections to the school. MOE had increased the number of reserved Phase 2C places from zero to 20 in 2014; and from 20 to 40 in 2022.”
The complete record
Every one of 3,698 lines we hold for Desmond Lee, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 39 of 74.
“Divorcees with shared care and control of their children have an equal right to list the children in their application to buy or rent an HDB flat. As any individual is only allowed to be listed in one HDB flat application, we require divorced parents to come to an agreement before either party lists their child in a flat application. Similar to other families, divorced parents who have obtained their ex-spouse’s agreement to list their children in the flat application may buy or rent an HDB flat if they meet the prevailing eligibility conditions. HDB does not specifically track the number of such applications. Those who are unable to reach an agreement with their ex-spouse can approach HDB to discuss their options. HDB will review each case and is prepared to exercise flexibility based on individual circumstances, such as financial hardship and lack of family support, to ensure that both parties have options to provide housing for themselves and their children. From January 2016 to September 2021, HDB received 20 appeals from divorcees without ex-spousal consent to buy an HDB flat with their children, of which 13 were approved (see Table 1). HDB also approved seven such cases to rent a flat from HDB from January 2018 to September 2021 (see Table 2). Data on such appeals to buy or rent an HDB flat in prior years is not available, as HDB did not specifically track such appeals previously.”
“Town Councils can also review further EOT periods with the contractors accordingly.”
“Neighbourhood Renewal Programme (NRP) projects are implemented by Town Councils from announcement to completion of the projects. This includes calling and awarding tender for the projects, and monitoring project progress. There are currently 32 NRP projects under construction. The COVID-19 pandemic has posed severe challenges for the construction industry. With the introduction of stringent safe management measures at worksites and tightening of border controls for foreign workers, many private and public sector construction projects have been delayed. To date, 18 out of the 32 NRP projects under construction have been delayed by more than six months, in part or in full, due to the COVID-19 situation. All 18 projects have resumed construction works progressively since October 2020 and are estimated to be completed within the next two to three years. Support for raw material prices is applicable for HDB Build-To-Order (BTO) projects which have a contractual provision for protection of price fluctuation of certain materials. As NRP project works are generally not as complex or extensive, we understand that Town Councils do not include such a contractual provision for the contractors in their tenders. The support measure for raw material prices will thus not be applicable. Nonetheless, NRP contractors affected by COVID-19 can tap on other relief measures provided under the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act (COTMA), and Town Councils will assess if the relief measures (for example, prolongation and manpower costs) are applicable to their NRP contracts. In addition, BCA had announced on 3 November 2020 the universal Extension of Time (EOT) of 122 days for public and private sector construction contracts affected by COVID-19.”
“From September 2018 to September 2021, there were only two appeals for the Proximity Housing Grant (PHG) from parents who bought or intended to buy their child’s flat, while the child moved to another property within four kilometres. The PHG was introduced in 2015 to encourage more families to live with or close to each other for mutual care and support. All Singaporeans buying a resale flat with or near their parents or children can receive the PHG once, regardless of whether they had previously owned a property. Parents who buy their child’s flat are not eligible for any housing grants, including the PHG. This is because such buyers are likely to end up with a larger flat, contrary to our objective of supporting seniors to right-size to a flat that better meets their retirement needs. That said, HDB will consider extending the PHG to parents who are buying over their child’s flat on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration factors such as whether the parents are right-sizing.”
“Since last year, the Government has put in place a wide range of support measures to help construction firms cope with the cost pressures brought about by COVID-19. This includes the $1.36 billion Construction Support Package to help firms in the construction industry cope with the cost of implementing safe management measures at worksites, as well as to co-share prolongation costs for public sector projects. Firms have also received support for their manpower costs through the Jobs Support Scheme and Foreign Worker Levy waivers and rebates. The Government has also put in place unprecedented legislative mechanisms through the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act to provide relief for contractors and to enable equitable co-sharing of increased costs by project parties due to the pandemic. These measures have helped the construction industry tide through the crisis. The number of contractors deregistering from BCA’s Contractors Registration System (CRS) due to financial reasons has remained stable at less than 1% of the total contractors registered in 2020 and 2021. However, for some firms which were already experiencing financial difficulties prior to the pandemic, the prolonged impact of COVID-19 has further weakened their financial positions. BCA will continue to closely monitor the financial health of contractors and will continue to work with the relevant trade associations and chambers to provide the necessary support for the construction industry.”
“MND and MOH have been working together on plans to develop assisted living facilities to expand the range of housing and care options for our senior citizens. MND, MOH and HDB have launched the Community Care Apartments (CCAs), a new public housing typology that integrates senior-friendly design features with care services, and facilitates community building through social programmes and communal spaces. The first CCA pilot at Bukit Batok was launched for sale in February 2021 and was well-received by seniors. We are now studying plans for a second pilot and will share more details in due course. We are also studying private sector models of assisted living and possible sites to pilot them, including vacant school sites. As vacant school sites are not configured to support residential and care needs for seniors, they will require some retrofitting to convert them to private assisted living facilities. We have been evaluating the feasibility of tendering a vacant school site for a purpose, and engaging stakeholders such as developers and healthcare operators on the appropriate parameters for the site, as well as potential market interest from industry players and potential residents. There are also alternative uses for vacant school sites, such as special education schools, community and welfare institutions, and offices. Hence, each site will need to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the various needs, as well as the suitability of the buildings and site. We will continue to study different models of retirement housing and assisted living developments to better meet the needs of our senior citizens, and will share more details on our plans when ready.”
“NParks adopts a science-based approach for the conservation of native seed dispersers and pollinators such as birds, butterflies, bees and bats. Guided by the Nature Conservation Masterplan, these measures include habitat enhancement and restoration works at our parks and nature reserves. In September 2021, NParks conducted planting works at Bukit Gombak Park to provide new habitats and food sources for butterflies. NParks also plants native flowering plant species along roads. Under the Species Recovery Programme, NParks aims to increase the population of our native flora and fauna, including seed dispersers and pollinators such as the Gold-margined Stingless Bee and the Green Imperial Pigeon. These efforts have also enhanced the ecological habitats for seed dispersers and pollinators, and strengthened the ecological resilience of our forest ecosystems. In addition, NParks works with stakeholders such as nature groups and academic experts to conduct studies on seed dispersers and pollinators to better understand their ecology. In 2019, NParks, in partnership with the National University of Singapore, conducted a study documenting past surveys of 75 species of bees and their host plants in Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and its adjacent nature parks. NParks is also working with stakeholders to study the Cave Nectar Bat, one of the few pollinating bats in Singapore. These studies will enhance our understanding of the role of these key pollinators in Singapore and contribute to their conservation efforts. NParks will continue to safeguard core biodiversity areas and their buffers, and enhance connectivity between our green spaces, to strengthen ecological resilience. This will conserve key habitats and ensure healthier populations of native seed dispersers and pollinators.”
“The Species Recovery Programme is a key part of NParks’ efforts to strengthen the conservation of terrestrial and marine native flora and fauna. The programme aims to increase the number of these species through efforts such as reintroducing and propagating them into their original habitats, as well as suitable new habitats. From 2016 to 2021, NParks increased the number of flora and fauna species for recovery efforts under the programme, from 46 to 120 species. NParks has seen some successes from its conservation efforts. For example, the Ormocarpum cochinchinense, a small native coastal shrub previously thought to be extinct in Singapore, has been propagated and planted in many of our parks and nature reserves. Similarly, the Sunda Slow Loris, which was previously classified as "Critically Endangered", is now "Endangered" in Singapore. NParks will continue to step up its species recovery efforts to strengthen the conservation of Singapore’s native biodiversity. By 2030, NParks aims to increase its recovery efforts to 160 flora and fauna species.”
“Singapore’s coastal and marine ecosystems support rich marine biodiversity, including more than 250 species of hard corals, 35 true mangrove species and 12 species of seagrass, which play an important role in supporting other marine species. Under the Marine Conservation Action Plan, NParks conserves key coastal and marine habitats in Singapore to safeguard native marine biodiversity. It also collaborates with research partners and volunteers to implement species recovery programmes for threatened marine species such as the Neptune’s Cup sponge, the Hawksbill turtle and selected coral species. In 2014, NParks established the Sisters’ Islands Marine Park to promote conservation, research and outreach efforts related to our native marine biodiversity. Small Sister’s Island and the reefs west of Pulau Tekukor and St John’s Island have been designated for conservation and research efforts. At Big Sister’s Island, NParks is enhancing amenities and developing new features such as a floating pontoon boardwalk and intertidal pools to allow the public to enjoy and appreciate our marine biodiversity. NParks, in consultation with the marine community, will continue to assess the need to introduce more marine parks to safeguard Singapore’s marine biodiversity.”
“From 2016 to 2020, NParks received an average of about 640 cases of feedback annually regarding noise disturbance from the Asian Koel. NParks adopts a holistic and science-based approach to manage the population of birds in Singapore, including the Asian Koel. At residential areas, NParks conducts surveys to identify hotspots where the Asian Koel is commonly found. To deter the birds from perching or foraging in these sites, NParks works with Town Councils and Management Corporation Strata Titles (MCSTs) to carry out habitat modification, such as tree pruning and replacement, as well as the harvesting of fruits to remove food sources. As the Asian Koel lays its eggs in crow nests, NParks also removes such nests to manage the population of these birds. These measures have been effective in managing the population of Asian Koels in residential areas, in a sustainable and humane manner. NParks will continue to work closely with agencies to enhance its strategies to mitigate bird-related disamenities, while promoting harmonious co-existence with our native wildlife species.”
“Among other things, the committee is looking at strengthening the effectiveness of community mediation and to make the last resort of filing a Community Dispute Resolution Tribunal case more accessible and expedient for claimants.”
“When second-hand tobacco smoke drifts from one HDB unit to another, it could cause discomfort and nuisance to neighbours. When approached by residents affected by second-hand tobacco smoke from neighbouring homes, HDB, together with Town Councils and NEA, would first encourage neighbours to speak to each other to try to resolve the matter. Where necessary, a Joint Advisory on Smoking in Homes will be issued to the flat reported to be emitting second-hand smoke, encouraging considerate behaviour and emphasising the harmful impact that second-hand smoke may have on their neighbours. If this does not work, the agencies will advise the affected neighbour to seek mediation, followed by a filing at the Community Dispute Resolution Tribunal. The Member is likely to be referring to a recent joint Call for Proposals issued by the Municipal Services Office (MSO) with the support of HDB, under the latter’s Cool Ideas Enterprise programme. The objective is to tap on technology to find innovative ways to tackle second-hand tobacco smoke. MSO welcomes proposals that can reduce second-hand smoke at its source, or prevent it from entering neighbouring units. MSO also welcomes proposals to help residents gather evidence that they can then use in the dispute resolution process, for example, non-intrusive means of identifying the source of cigarette smoke and measuring its impact on the affected households. The Call for Proposals closes on 9 December, after which MSO will evaluate the proposals with HDB’s technical input to determine which are suitable for further development and trials. This complements ongoing efforts by an inter-agency committee led by MCCY to review the Community Dispute Management Framework.”
“Present regulations on collective sales already take into account the age of the development. Generally, under the Land Titles (Strata) Act, developments that are 10 years in age or more are required to obtain consent from 80% of owners before the collective sale can proceed. The consent threshold is increased to 90% for developments less than 10 years in age. To date, the vast majority of collective sales have involved developments aged 30 years and older. There are also safeguards to ensure that development is undertaken in an environmentally responsible manner, while meeting the housing needs of Singaporeans. At the planning stage, every development proposal goes through a robust evaluation process. The proposal will be assessed on its potential environmental impact, along with other aspects such as traffic, public health and heritage, before planning approval is given. In addition, we promote the adoption of sustainable construction practices. For example, BCA’s Code of Practice for Demolition provides guidelines for recovery of waste from demolition. BCA’s Green Mark scheme also awards points to developments with resource-efficient building designs, as well as those which conserve existing structures on-site.”
“BCA has worked with MOM to temporarily allow new construction Work Permit Holders (WPHs) from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to obtain their skills certification in Singapore instead of at Overseas Testing Centres (OTCs) in the PRC, from 7 May 2021 until the end of this year. This temporary flexibility has been extended to other approved sources of construction WPHs on a case-by-case basis. Agencies will review whether this arrangement can be made permanent, while continuing to ensure that workers are equipped with the basic knowledge and skills required to work in our construction industry. These workers must obtain their skills certification within a year of their work pass issuance. To encourage employers to get their workers certified earlier, employers have to pay higher levy rates if their workers do not obtain their skills certification within three months of their work pass issuance. To date, about 3,500 WPHs have been permitted to obtain their skills certification in Singapore. About 1,700 of these workers have arrived in Singapore and about 90% have yet to attempt the certification test. So far, slightly more than 100 of them have obtained their skills certification.”
“The PPHS provides home buyers with an option if they wish to stay on their own before their flats are ready; these are for married couples especially with children. The demand for PPHS has grown significantly because of the pandemic arising from the BTO delays as well as the desire for more privacy and, therefore, while waiting for their flats, they want to get PPHS. To make sure that we target the PPHS supply to those who need such housing because of their limited housing options, we made some moves in August this year to target such support to those with household income of below $7,000 and prioritising those with children. So, that way we hope to ensure that those with more urgent housing needs while waiting for their BTO flats can get support. For those with no family support and no housing options, we have other alternatives such as Interim Rental Housing (IRH). We continue to see how better we can support families who have been impacted by the delays during this period. Mr Seah Kian Peng mentioned earlier, if I can take this opportunity to address him, he did ask a question that I omitted to reply, which is with regard to the income ceiling as well as those who may feel that with a longer wait for housing, the risk of them busting the income ceiling is there. We have made some changes to income ceiling in the last few years and continue to review the household incomes of home applicants to ensure that it meets the needs of Singaporeans. And when people apply for the flats, they book their flats, they get the Housing Loan Eligibility (HLE) as well as their grant eligibility at the point of application. Therefore, the delays in waiting for flats that they have already booked, there will be less impact on that front.”
“Indeed, the Member's points are well taken. As I said earlier, we will increase the supply of BTO flats next year, a number larger than the 17,000 we have launched this year. We have been increasing the BTO flats' supply for some years already. For example, in 2019, it was 14,600. Last year, it was 16,800. This year, 17,000. Next year, it will be more than that. We balance that against the supply in the resale market. As I said, the demand is high for a whole variety of reasons. But we have to keep an eye on the overall ecosystem of housing, both public and private, BTOs and resale, to ensure that the overall housing ecosystem remain stable while meeting the aspirations of Singaporeans.”
“And for those who cannot wait longer for the BTO flats to move to a resale flat because of urgent family needs, we will consider their appeals for waiver of forfeiture for their BTO flats on a case-by-case basis and be sympathetic to their housing needs.”
“I thank the Member for the question. We continue to keep a close eye on the property market in general, both the private sector as well as the HDB resale market. There are a range of reasons why demand for housing is high. First, of course, this is the Echo Boomer generation, family formation rates, marriage and the desire for housing and their own homes, is one. Second, the pressures of the pandemic, work from home, changes that we have to adapt and adjust to, have caused people to want more space, in general. And so, both first-timers as well as even second-timers wanting a bigger place. Thirdly, interest rates, being as low as they are, have enabled people to be able to consider housing options. Then, the stresses and strains on the construction sector, the delays in both BTO as well as private housing projects, have caused some people who need homes to consider the resale market, both in the HDB resale as well as the private resale market for private properties. And the social trends that have been taking place over the years and decades: the desire for more space for more privacy, for more nuclearised families, rather than three-generation families, more singles desiring their own homes and own spaces. These, of course, add on to the desire by people to have homes and exacerbated by this pandemic. So, for the first-time home buyers, we will be pushing out even more BTO flats next year and in future years, to ensure that their housing needs are met. As I have said earlier, we will push out more than 17,000 flats next year, more than what we have launched or are going to launch this year. At the same time, for the resale market, we have provided significant grants to help people afford homes in the resale market, if they need to.”
“For low-income households with no family support and no other housing options, HDB will consider offering Interim Rental Housing, or IRH on a case-by-case basis. Flat buyers who face delays that exceed their Delivery Possession Date, or DPD, will be compensated at the amount and for the period as set out in the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act, or COTMA, which applies to all developers. We will also consider waiving flat booking forfeitures and the one-year wait-out period based on the flat buyers’ circumstances, such as for flat buyers who choose to cancel their BTO flats due to BTO delays and buy a resale flat to meet urgent housing needs. Even amidst the ongoing pandemic, we are committed to delivering public housing to Singaporeans. With these measures, we will press on to keep our BTO programme on track and support buyers who may be affected by the delays.”
“To try to mitigate the pandemic’s impact on our public housing programme, HDB has rolled out extensive assistance to help contractors complete ongoing projects in a timely manner. To tackle manpower shortages, HDB has worked with firms to safely recruit workers from various countries and co-shared the increase in manpower costs. HDB has also worked with contractors to explore ways to speed up construction without affecting safety and quality. To minimise work stoppages due to COVID-19 transmission, we have implemented Antigen Rapid Testing, or ART, on top of Rostered Routine Testing (RRT) at worksites. This allows members of the construction workforce who have been infected to be picked up and treated early, and close contacts quarantined swiftly. Worksites can then continue operating as long as workers are on the ART regime. To help with the higher cost of materials, HDB has extended the period of protection against steel price fluctuation and supplied contractors with more concreting materials at protected prices. This is in addition to the extensive Government support provided through the Job Support Scheme (JSS), construction restart grants, legislative interventions, advance payments, sharing of prolongation costs and manpower cost increases, and foreign worker levy rebates. While the pandemic has inevitably caused delays to both private and public sector construction projects, including BTO projects, we will continue to do our best to minimise the extent of the delays. HDB has also taken steps to support affected home buyers. We have helped some flat buyers secure interim accommodation and will be increasing the supply of flats under the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS) by 800 units over the next two years.”
“There are a few projects like Queen’s Arc, where the waiting times are longer. This is because the conditions of the site are difficult, and construction will take longer, or these are projects with very high storey-heights, very tall blocks, which require more construction time. These have caused some people to worry that all new BTOs will take six to seven years. But these are in the minority. By and large, barring further unexpected developments, most flat buyers can expect to move into their flats within four to five years after booking their flats. Third, the recent news on Greatearth’s insolvency may have added to the anxieties of home buyers waiting for their flats to be completed and some are concerned whether this puts the completion of their homes at risk. To try to minimise the impact on home buyers, HDB has brought new contractors on board, within a month, to take over Greatearth’s affected projects. Unfortunately, this will still add a further two to three months' delay to affected projects, but we are working closely with the new contractors to bring the projects back on track. We are watching the progress of all BTO projects closely and have stepped up efforts to detect emerging issues earlier and resolve them. Fourth, existing home buyers may be concerned about further delays to ongoing projects given the impact of COVID-19 on the construction industry. With tightened border controls over foreign workers, disruptions in the supply of building materials and stringent worksite public health measures, there have been manpower and material shortages and a slowdown in work, which have affected public and private construction projects.”
“Thank you. First, Mr Seah Kian Peng had asked if HDB will build more BTO flats or advance planned projects in view of demand. We recognise that demand for public housing has remained strong and that is why we had adjusted our supply. We had launched 14,600 flats in 2019. We increased that to 16,800 in 2020. We are on track to launch 17,000 BTO flats this year in 2021. Next year, we will increase the BTO flat supply even further and launch more than 17,000 flats. We are finalising the details and will announce our plans for 2022 when ready. Second, there have been concerns over the waiting times for BTO flats, as raised by Miss Cheryl Chan. Some have said that waiting times have risen to six to seven years. That is not the case. Let me start with ongoing BTO projects. The average waiting time for ongoing BTO projects, including delays brought about by the pandemic, has remained between four and five years. Thus far, Government’s support and assistance measures have helped to keep the pandemic-induced delays to our BTO projects to a year or less, except for one project which had already experienced project difficulties unrelated to the pandemic. The total wait time for any given project has been kept under six years. For BTO projects launched last year and this year, the estimated waiting times range from three to five and a half years. For example, Hougang Citrine launched in August is expected to be completed in three years. Alkaff Breeze in Bidadari launched in February has a wait time of just over three years. And Garden Court @ Tengah, launched last November, has a waiting time of about three and a half years. There are some projects that will take longer, such as Queen’s Arc – launched in August this year – expected to take longer at about five and a half years.”
“Yes, Mr Speaker, my apologies. If I may have your permission to take Question Nos 2 and 3 together?”
“Mr Speaker, Members have shared concerns about the impact of the ongoing pandemic on our Housing and Development Board (HDB) Build-to-Order (BTO) supply, the progress of construction work and waiting times for ongoing projects. Let me address these concerns and set out what we are doing to keep our HDB BTO programme on track and to support affected homebuyers.”
“From July 2018 to June 2021, SCDF responded to close to 50 recorded cardiac arrest incidents in parks and park connectors. In all these incidents, an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) was used. NParks has worked with SCDF to increase the number of AEDs in our parks and park connectors over the years. To date, about 200 AEDs have been installed in our most visited parks, including nature reserves, regional parks, as well as park connectors with high visitorship. The AEDs are located at key activity areas in our parks, such as visitor centres, toilet blocks, play areas, fitness corners and F&B outlets. This allows for a quicker response should a cardiac arrest occur. NParks will continue to install more AEDs in our parks and park connectors, in consultation with SCDF. As of September 2021, more than 180,000 users have downloaded SCDF’s myResponder mobile application, with over 100,000 users registered as community first responders. SCDF works with partners such as the Singapore Heart Foundation and public hospitals to promote the use of the application through organisational townhalls and publicity campaigns. SCDF has also promoted the application through its social media platforms and public engagement programmes such as the Virtual Fire Station Open House, and the Community Emergency Preparedness Programme.”
“HDB flats are meant for owner-occupation. To reinforce this principle, HDB flat owners are not allowed to concurrently own any private property during the Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) of five years for their flat. The same principle extends to private property owners who wish to buy a non-subsidised HDB flat. They will have to dispose of their private property within six months from the date of the flat purchase to meet the MOP conditions. This also serves to dampen demand for flats from buyers with no urgent housing needs, and prioritises our limited supply of HDB flats for home seekers who do not own other properties. After fulfilling the five-year MOP, all HDB flat owners, including those who had previously owned private property, may buy private property.”
“As at 31 August 2021, HDB managed a stock of 1,025,331 completed homeownership flats. Of these, 1,607 flats, or 0.2%, were vacant units that had not been booked. Most of these units were either being offered under Sale of Balance Flats exercises or open booking where flat selection had not been completed, or were scheduled for offer in subsequent exercises. Please see Table 1 for details. From 2016 to 2020, HDB launched an average of around 16,500 flats every year. Once the flats are completed, HDB progressively invites flat owners to collect the keys to their flats. As at 31 August 2021, 3,772 homeownership flats had been booked and completed, and HDB has scheduled flat buyers to collect the keys to their flats.”
“The projected ultimate number of 1,557,000 dwelling units, as stated under the ‘Key Statistics’ segment of HDB’s Annual Report 2019/2020, is an estimate of the total number of residential dwelling units that HDB towns can accommodate when fully developed. This figure is derived based on the land area zoned for residential use in the Master Plan within HDB’s town development boundaries, and includes both existing and future housing developments. The projected ultimate number of dwelling units is an estimate that helps us refine our land use planning considerations for HDB towns. It is not an intended target to be reached. As part of our regular reviews of our land use and development plans, the projected ultimate figure may change over time. Of the 1,557,000 projected ultimate dwelling units, 82% are HDB flats, and the remaining 18% is private housing, including Executive Condominiums.”
“Construction Work Permit Holders (WPHs) are required to attain the Skills Evaluation Certificate (Knowledge) [SEC(K)] or equivalent, to work in Singapore. This ensures that our WPHs possess the basic knowledge and skills required to work in our construction industry. The SEC(K) covers a wide range of trades. It is in the employer’s interest to bring in workers with the relevant skills. Beyond fulfilling the basic SEC(K) requirement, construction firms are encouraged to continually upskill or train their workers to be proficient in multiple trades. This will enable the industry to fulfil its diverse manpower needs, while managing its reliance on migrant workers. Given that a construction worker may do different kinds of works across multiple worksites, BCA does not track the percentage of construction WPHs who have done work involving skills that match the trade for the SEC(K) that they have obtained. Doing so would impose an undue administrative burden on the industry, which may not be commensurate with the information collected.”
“MND and NParks have been reviewing the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act (ESA) to ensure that it remains effective in supporting Singapore’s regulation of the trade in wildlife species protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). We intend to strengthen our regulation of the trade in CITES species, enhance penalties, and augment NParks’ investigatory and enforcement powers for wildlife trade offences. As part of the review, MND and NParks have consulted several stakeholders on the proposed amendments to the ESA. These stakeholders include traders, shipping companies, industry associations, academics and non-profit organisations such as the Animal Concerns Research & Education Society (ACRES), World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Singapore, and TRAFFIC. We will carry out a public consultation exercise on the proposed amendments soon. When ready, we will introduce a Bill in Parliament to amend the ESA.”
“HDB provides up to two housing loans to eligible Singapore citizen households and this is generally sufficient to meet the life cycle needs of a flat buyer. Beyond this, households who require another housing loan may seek financing from financial institutions regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Nevertheless, HDB does exercise flexibility to provide another HDB housing loan for those who have exhausted their financing options, and are in urgent need of housing, on a case-by-case basis. Between September 2020 and August 2021, about 2,900 households approached HDB for another housing loan. Around one in five of these appeals were successful.”
“The Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS) provides an additional temporary housing option for eligible first-timer households awaiting the completion of their new flats. Since 2020, the demand for PPHS flats has increased due to delays in the completion of BTO flats, more people working from home and more competition for open market rental. At the same time, the supply of PPHS flats has tightened as delays in BTO completion have stalled the return of PPHS flats to HDB, and the shortage of workers has slowed down sprucing-up works for the PPHS flats before they can be rented out to new tenants. While we will be increasing the supply of PPHS flats starting from this year and over the next two years, the number of PPHS flats remains limited. Given the increased demand and supply crunch, we are prioritising families in greater need of subsidised temporary housing, and have fine-tuned the eligibility conditions and allocation process. The income ceiling of $7,000 will enable us to support families who are less able to afford renting a flat on the open market. At the same time, it is well above the median monthly household income of PPHS applicants of about $5,700. Presently, $7,000 is also the income ceiling for 3-room flats in most BTO projects in non-mature estates. Households with a monthly income of more than $7,000 but who have high monthly expenses, including larger households, may approach HDB if they require assistance with temporary housing. Their PPHS applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis.”
“These technologies provide alternative repair options for residents who do not wish to hack their toilet tiles or who prefer to keep the existing finishes in their toilets. The nanotechnology waterproofing system is currently offered under the GRA Scheme, and HDB is reviewing the overlaying waterproofing membrane system with contractors.”
“Water may penetrate through joints or cracks in external walls or roofs due to natural deterioration, and wear and tear. The external walls and roofs of HDB blocks are common property managed by the Town Councils. Town Councils are advised to keep them in good condition by carrying out regular maintenance and repairs. HDB can provide technical advice to Town Councils on the root causes of leaks and appropriate repair methods, which could vary from case to case. To enhance Town Councils’ technical competence and to guide Town Councils in maintenance-related works, HDB also provides training to Town Councils on a series of topics, including repair of external wall seepage. Town Council contractors can also attend training courses on waterproofing offered by BCA Approved Training and Testing Centres. The list of courses is available on BCA’s website. Similarly, ceiling leaks that occur in HDB flats generally arise due to wear and tear of the waterproofing membrane over time. In such cases, the responsibility for repairs is shared jointly between the upper and lower-floor flat owners. HDB provides assistance to residents via the Goodwill Repair Assistance (GRA) Scheme, where HDB co-pays 50% of the repair cost, with the remaining 50% co-shared equally between the upper and lower-floor flat owners. For complex and recurring issues which contractors are unable to rectify, HDB will assist in the investigations and provide advice where required. HDB has also worked with contractors to improve on current repair methods for ceiling leaks, and has identified two new repair methods – nanotechnology waterproofing system and overlaying waterproofing membrane system.”
“We recognise that delays to the completion of Build-To-Order (BTO) flats have caused inconvenience to flat buyers and affected their plans. HDB is working closely with contractors and relevant government agencies to keep construction work on track to meet the revised timelines, while ensuring that project quality and safety standards are not compromised. Not all flat buyers require assistance with interim housing, as many are able to find alternative housing arrangements with family members or on the open market. The Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS) provides an additional option for those who need help with accommodation while awaiting the completion of their BTO flats. HDB will be increasing the supply of PPHS flats starting from this year and over the next two years. HDB has also finetuned the PPHS eligibility conditions and allocation process to prioritise families in greater need of subsidised temporary housing. Given the COVID-19 situation, many other families looking for temporary housing may also be turning to the open market for rental. Providing direct subsidies may induce demand and drive up market rentals. Such a move would be counter-productive, as it makes renting more expensive. As such, HDB currently has no plans to provide direct subsidies for open market rental. For low-income households with no family support and no other housing option, other than PPHS, HDB will consider offering Interim Rental Housing (IRH) on a case-by-case basis. HDB will also consider waiving the forfeiture and the one-year wait out period for flat buyers who have been affected by these delays and, as a result, choose to cancel their BTO flat booking to buy a resale flat, based on an assessment of the flat buyers’ specific circumstances.”
“To prioritise our limited public housing supply for households with the greatest needs, such as larger families who tend to need more living space, singles are currently allowed to own HDB flats on their own from age 35. Divorcees without children can thus retain their matrimonial flat alone if they are at least 35 years old. If they are below age 35, they can retain their flat if they include a family member, such as either of their parents, to form an eligible family nucleus. That said, we recognise that circumstances differ from person to person. Hence, HDB does allow divorcees below age 35 without children to retain their matrimonial flat alone, on a case-by-case basis, for instance if they are not able to form an eligible family nucleus to retain their flat and are not able to stay with their family members. From 2016 to 2020, HDB approved 37 such cases on average each year.”
“Over the past five years, an average of 24 cases involving dislodged façade elements have been reported to the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) each year. On 22 August 2021, a decorative feature on the rooftop of 3013 Bedok Industrial Park E dislodged and fell. Following the incident, BCA directed the building owner, JTC, to appoint a Professional Engineer (PE) to carry out a detailed investigation of the incident and to recommend rectification measures to be taken. As a safety precaution, the PE will also inspect adjacent buildings with similar features. Investigations are currently ongoing and are expected to be completed by end September 2021. The Periodic Façade Inspection (PFI) regime will apply to buildings that are above 20 years old and 13 metres in height (or roughly four storeys). Façade inspections must be conducted by trained personnel every seven years. The PFI regime will take effect from early next year, and BCA will regularly review the corresponding requirements to ensure public safety.”
“The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) requires new developments and existing developments undergoing major addition and alteration works to be designed for adequate ventilation. For example, all naturally ventilated spaces are required to have a minimum area of openings, for example, windows, to facilitate air flow. For air-conditioned spaces, buildings are required to take in outdoor air at a minimum rate specified in the Singapore Standard for air-conditioning and mechanical ventilation (ACMV) in buildings. This Standard provides guidance to help buildings achieve an acceptable level of indoor air quality, and is reviewed regularly by a Standards Committee, comprising representatives from Government agencies, industry and academia. To mitigate the risk of COVID-19 transmission, BCA, NEA and MOH have issued a set of guidelines for building owners and facilities managers on improving ventilation and indoor air quality in their buildings. This includes guidance on maximising outdoor air intake and installing efficient filters in ACMV systems. Building owners and facilities managers are encouraged to adopt these guidelines for the health and well-being of their building occupants. There are no requirements to install carbon dioxide monitors in public and commercial buildings. Building owners may choose to monitor the level of carbon dioxide in their buildings as an indicator of whether ventilation is adequate.”
“Singapore Permanent Resident (SPR) households that do not have a Singapore Citizen (SC) owner or essential occupier are already allowed to buy a resale HDB flat on the open market, if the household has at least two SPRs, all SPR owners and essential occupiers have been SPRs for at least three years, and the household meets other eligibility criteria. SPR families are subject to more stringent conditions and do not receive housing subsidies to prioritise our limited public housing supply for Singapore citizens. We have no plans to adjust the three-year waiting period for SPRs at this juncture.”
“The PFI regime will apply to buildings that are above 20 years old and 13 metres in height, or roughly four storeys. Façade inspections must be conducted by trained personnel, known otherwise as Competent Persons, every seven years. Based on the findings from these inspections, the Competent Person may decide to carry out a full façade investigation, to determine the cause of defects identified and to recommend appropriate rectification measures. The PFI regime will take effect from early next year and about 30,000 buildings will be required to undertake façade inspections within the first seven-year inspection cycle. BCA will regularly review the requirements under the PFI regime to ensure public safety.”
“As a result, the vast majority of transactions involved a COV. We, therefore, reviewed the resale process and the current process allows price negotiations to take place between buyers and sellers, guided by the latest market information available on the HDB InfoWeb. Any further changes to the resale process that reduce or cap the COV payable could restrict the functioning of an efficient market. This is a situation we want to avoid. The Government will continue to monitor the housing market conditions closely and ensure that Singaporeans have access to affordable public housing.”
“The recent increase in resale prices can be partly attributed to a broad-based increase in demand for housing, supported by the current low interest rate environment. Nonetheless, the majority of resale flat buyers did not have to pay any cash-over-valuation (COV), and the median COV across all buyers has remained at $0. HDB resale flat transactions are conducted on a "willing-buyer-willing-seller" basis, with prices negotiated and mutually agreed upon between flat buyers and sellers. Many factors influence the price of a flat, including its location, size and condition. The transacted prices of resale flats for the last 12 months are published on the HDB InfoWEB to guide flat buyers and sellers in their negotiations. Taking reference from these transacted prices, buyers should first consider if they will be overpaying for the flat when they make an offer. After a resale price has been agreed upon, the flat sellers will grant an Option to Purchase (OTP) to the buyers. If the buyers wish to use their CPF savings or a housing loan to pay for the flat purchase, they will need to make a "Request for Value" to HDB. Cash-Over-Valuation (COV) arises when the resale price is higher than the market valuation of the flat, as the difference can only be paid by cash. Otherwise, there is no COV. Buyers can decide whether to exercise the OTP for the resale transaction depending on the valuation and any COV payable. Should they choose not to proceed with the transaction, buyers will forgo the option fee of between $1 and $1,000 paid to the seller. Ultimately, the resale price has to be agreed upon by the buyer and the seller. Before March 2014, sellers would obtain the valuation first before negotiating the COV payable with buyers.”
“In 2020, we selected the first batch of approximately 56,000 flats under the extended Home Improvement Programme (HIP), which covers blocks built between 1987 and 1997 and comprises 230,000 flats. Future selections will be made progressively, with the number of flats selected each year taking into consideration the Government’s fiscal position, as well as construction capacity, which has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the challenges, we hope to complete the programme within our earlier projection of 10 years. HDB has implemented the LUP for over 5,000 blocks. Work on all ongoing LUP projects has resumed, but the expected completion date has been delayed by about a year, due to the circuit breaker period last year, the manpower crunch in the construction sector, and the need to comply with onsite safe management measures. HDB has been working with BCA and MOM to mitigate the delays and manpower challenges and will continue to update residents on the progress of the LUP works. There remain about 150 blocks, with about 2,000 units without direct lift access, where it is not feasible to implement LUP due to high cost, or existing technical and site constraints. For such blocks, HDB will continue to explore new methods to bring down LUP costs and alternatives to improve accessibility for residents living in flats without direct lift access. Residents living in these blocks who are in urgent need of direct lift access due to medical conditions or mobility reasons are eligible for the Lift access Housing Grant (LHG) of up to $30,000 when they buy another flat with direct lift access.”
“HDB conducts credit assessment to gauge the financial ability of a loan applicant to service mortgage instalments every month based on their income. Unlike employed persons who generally have monthly CPF contributions from work that can be used for mortgage instalments, self-employed persons typically service their mortgage instalments in cash. In the application for an HDB loan, employed persons are, hence, required to provide CPF statements to HDB as proof of their income, whilst self-employed persons are asked to provide bank statements to show that they have been able to sustain a positive cash flow from their earned income over a period of time and, therefore, have adequate cash surpluses every month to pay their mortgage instalments. Stocks and bonds can be freely traded on the stock exchanges and could have been purchased at any time. Such investments might not, therefore, reflect the latest income and cashflow situation of an individual seeking an HDB loan, and it would be less prudent from a credit assessment perspective to rely on financial investment holdings at the point of application to assess loan eligibility as the values of financial investments are dynamic and market-dependent. Nonetheless, for those unable to meet HDB’s credit assessment guidelines, HDB will look into their individual circumstances on a case-by-case basis and will exercise flexibility where feasible to assist them with their homeownership aspirations.”
“To ensure that there is sufficient greenery in HDB estates, TCs must seek HDB’s approval before removing trees, whether this is due to poor tree health or upgrading works and are required to replace the trees that are removed.”
“HDB provides greenery in new public housing developments, while Town Councils (TCs) plant and maintain greenery in existing HDB estates. NParks shares best practices and guidelines on greenery management, including the selection of plant species, suitable planting locations, and tree risk management, with HDB and TCs. These practices help TCs to manage the tree population in public housing estates and to mitigate the risk of tree failure, especially in view of more adverse weather conditions due to climate change. HDB selects trees to be planted based on their hardiness and overall suitability for public housing estates. In addition, since 2018, HDB has been securing trees that are planted on rooftop gardens with anchors at their roots embedded in the soil to further reduce the risk of tree fall incidents. On plant health and maintenance, NParks provides a range of training courses and seminars, and certifies arborists engaged by TCs using the International Society of Arboriculture framework. This helps TCs to build up their knowledge of tree maintenance and keeps them updated about best practices, which includes adjusting their tree maintenance schedules according to weather patterns and their effect on different plant species. NParks also advises TCs on storm-vulnerable tree species that are prone to failure, so that TCs can remove and replace them. Before the start of yearly monsoon seasons, NParks also provides advisories to TCs to step up checks on all trees, including large trees and trees at elevated areas, and to undertake the pruning of tree crowns if necessary. The existing Town Council Management Report already assesses whether landscaped areas in HDB estates are generally clean and properly maintained by the TCs.”
“Some of these initiatives include the introduction of more greenery on the top decks of selected multi-storey carparks and piloting the use of cool paint on the façade of HDB blocks to reduce ambient temperature. Third, we are driving R&D in urban sustainability. For example, our Cities of Tomorrow R&D programme supports R&D to address urban sustainability challenges. We are also initiating a Marine Climate Change Science programme, which will advance the core sciences of marine climate change, and develop solutions to mitigate impacts, such as rising sea levels, increasing sea surface temperatures and extreme storm events. We will press ahead with our sustainability efforts under the Green Plan, in partnership with the private sector, research institutions and the community.”
“As part of the Singapore Green Plan 2030, we are making our urban environment more green and sustainable, with ambitious steps on three fronts. First, we are transforming Singapore into a City in Nature. We have been launching new parks which feature more lush vegetation and natural landscapes, the most recent being Bukit Gombak Park and Phase 1 of Pasir Panjang Park. We have also announced new nature corridors, such as Clementi and Bukit Batok Nature Corridors, which will strengthen ecological connectivity in these areas. Second, we are making our buildings, HDB towns, and districts even more sustainable. We are committed to raising our environmental sustainability standards under the latest edition of the Singapore Green Building Masterplan. Last week, BCA launched its latest edition of the Green Mark scheme, which is one of the world’s leading green building certifications. The refreshed scheme raises our standards in energy performance, and places greater emphasis on other important sustainability outcomes. These include designing for maintainability, reducing embodied carbon across a building’s life cycle, using smart technologies, enhancing a building’s resilience to climate change, and creating healthier environments for building users. We have also developed a new Super Low Energy (SLE) standard for residential buildings, which will be awarded to residential buildings that achieve at least 60% improvement in energy efficiency over 2005 levels. Residents of existing HDB towns can also look forward to their towns becoming more sustainable via the HDB Green Towns Programme. Over the next 10 years, residents can look forward to more green features that can improve their quality of life.”
“The nature park will serve as an ecological connector and habitat between Clementi Forest and the Southern Ridges, as well as to complement the connectivity along the Rail Corridor in the vicinity of Ulu Pandan, which is one of the two ecological corridors identified in NParks’ Ecological Profiling Exercise. Additionally, a Green Corridor, measuring up to 40 metres wide at some stretches, along Ulu Pandan Canal, is also proposed to be established to serve as an ecological corridor to facilitate wildlife movement along Sungei Ulu Pandan. HDB will be engaging a specialist consultant to develop an Environmental Monitoring and Management Plan (EMMP), which will mitigate and manage any potential environmental impact arising from the infrastructure works, and closely monitor the works from start to end.”
“The Ulu Pandan site, known to the public as "Dover Forest", is a 33-hectare site earmarked for residential development in URA’s Master Plan since 2003. As part of the planning process, development proposals are subject to an evaluation of the potential impact to the environment, as well as other factors, such as traffic and public health. Based on the site context and advice from Technical Agencies for this development proposal, HDB engaged an external consultant to conduct an Environmental Baseline Study (EBS) to understand the existing topography, flora, fauna and hydrology within the site. The EBS also guides HDB’s development plans and identifies existing habitats to retain within the site. HDB had engaged nature groups extensively and iteratively to seek their feedback on the EBS findings as well as the proposed treatment for the site in response to the EBS findings. The EBS report was also published online to take in public feedback, with the feedback period extended by an additional four weeks to allow the public more time to share their views. Based on the findings from the EBS, feedback from nature groups and the public, as well as NParks’ Ecological Profiling Exercise, HDB has revised their urban planning and design strategies for Ulu Pandan, taking a holistic and science-based approach to balance development and nature conservation in Singapore. The revised conceptual development plans were announced earlier in July. Measures include putting off the development plans for the western half of Ulu Pandan in the medium term to be reviewed again in about 10 years’ time, while agencies work towards safeguarding a sizeable nature park within the western half of Ulu Pandan which is richer in biodiversity compared to the eastern half of the site.”