Masagos Zulkifli B M M
Singapore
“Coordination between Early Intervention (EI) centres, families and preschools is important for the continuity of support for children with developmental needs.”
“The Taxi Subsidy Scheme supports persons with disabilities (PwDs) who are unable to take public transport, by providing means-tested subsidies to offset the cost of taxi travel to school, work and employment-related training supported by SG Enable.”
“The Skills and Salary Guidelines published by the National Council of Social Service (NCSS) guides social service agencies (SSAs) to pay their employees fair and competitive remuneration and maintain the sector's attractiveness. The Guidelines are adjusted so that salaries remain competitive with comparable roles in competing markets.”
“Staff turnover rates vary across social service agencies (SSAs). An individual's decision to leave an organisation is influenced by a myriad of factors, of which pay is only one.”
“Beyond the requirement of a structured daily programme, community-based SCFA administrators have the flexibility to offer programmes and additional enrichment activities that meet the needs of their students. MSF does not track staff salaries and turnover of SCCs in general nor those that administer SCFA.”
“Male preschool educators comprised about 1% of the early childhood workforce in each of the last five years. The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) has not issued guidelines pertaining to the rules set by preschool centres specific to the conduct of male preschool educators.”
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“I urge everyone to join in the collective effort to stop the dengue transmission cycle by regularly doing the five-step Mozzie Wipeout and to remind your family members, friends and neighbours to remove stagnant water from within and around their homes.”
“NEA's approach to Project Wolbachia is aligned with the World Health Organization's and the International Atomic Energy Agency's guidelines on developing sterile insect technologies using a phased approach. Each phase of Project Wolbachia has a clearly defined objective to progress the study and evaluate the technology systematically. The project is now in Phase 3, which aims to determine if the Aedes aegypti population suppression achieved thus far can be sustained in larger areas. The release area covers 84 blocks in Yishun and 60 blocks in Tampines and is 3.7 times larger than the release area when Wolbachia first started. It also focuses on the development of automation for male Wolbachia-Aedes mosquito production and release to ensure scalability of the technology. As field studies require prior systematic design, preparation and historical data for comparison, they are not suited for reacting to current dengue clusters, which are very dynamic. Wolbachia technology is also not a silver bullet. It will not replace the community's efforts to ensure good housekeeping, which is still needed to keep our homes and estates free from mosquitoes and dengue. Comprehensive mosquito surveillance, source eradication of mosquito breeding habitats, and spraying of insecticide where necessary to control the adult mosquito population, continue to be Singapore's key strategies for dengue prevention and control. Mr Speaker, we are still in the peak dengue season, which stretches from June to October. The region around us is similarly seeing an upsurge in dengue cases this year. We need to remain vigilant and continue to work as a community to suppress the Aedes mosquito population and keep dengue cases in check.”
“NEA will continue to work with our partners to enhance the efforts in dengue control. From the second half of 2019, NEA will progressively deploy an additional 14,000 Gravitraps to new Housing and Development Board (HDB) blocks and landed estates. This will augment NEA's current network of 50,000 Gravitraps and enhance our surveillance capabilities. The Gravitrap surveillance system allows NEA to prioritise its resources and deploy officers to focus on areas with high mosquito population. In addition, since 25 August, NEA has partnered the People's Association (PA) to step up dengue outreach. Five thousand volunteers from PA grassroots organisations and Community Emergency and Response Teams (CERTs) will work hand in hand with dengue prevention volunteers to conduct house visits and distribute dengue prevention leaflets. Another new initiative by NEA is the sharing of information on areas with relatively higher Aedes aegypti adult mosquito population on its webpage to facilitate targeted action by key stakeholders, community partners and residents. The information aims to increase awareness of dengue risk in areas with high mosquito population which might not yet be dengue clusters, so that stakeholders can pre-emptively take measures to reduce potential mosquito breeding habitats and avoid the formation of new dengue clusters. While the results from Project Wolbachia field studies have shown promise, the Wolbachia technology has only been tested in small study sites in Singapore and remains under research and development. It is important for NEA to evaluate the technology rigorously before deploying it on a larger scale.”
“This points to an urgent need for home and premises owners to step up their efforts to eradicate mosquito breeding habitats. NEA will enforce against premises owners found with mosquito breeding and has taken about 1,200 enforcement actions against households between January and June. Since the launch of the National Dengue Prevention Campaign in April, 89 divisions across Singapore have organised more than 1,000 dengue prevention events and activities. Mayors, grassroots advisers, community leaders and dengue prevention volunteers have been visiting homes to share dengue prevention tips, including information on how to identify potential mosquito breeding habitats. To heighten the public's awareness and vigilance against mosquito breeding and dengue, dengue cluster alert banners, posters and notices have also been strategically placed around the estate in dengue cluster areas. Poster walkers have been deployed and dengue prevention advertorials have been displayed at high footfall areas within clusters. NEA has also reached out to the public through TV and radio commercials, as well as digital and social media platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram. We are seeing positive outcomes from these collective efforts. As of 24 August, we have closed 863 of the 1,021 clusters formed in 2019. This weekly number of dengue cases has also come down from a high of 664 cases in the second week of July to the current 478 cases in the third week of August. Some of the largest clusters in Woodlands, Upper Thomson, Chai Chee and Pasir Ris have closed. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our stakeholders, including the grassroots advisers, grassroots leaders, dengue prevention volunteers, Town Councils and residents, for your efforts.”
“Thank you. Based on the National Environment Agency's (NEA's) surveillance, the surge in dengue cases this year is attributable to three key factors: an increase in mosquito population; the relatively warmer weather; and lower herd immunity in our population. NEA's gravitrap surveillance system has shown an increase in the Aedes aegypti mosquito population by almost three times since the last major dengue outbreak in 2013. This persistently high Aedes aegypti mosquito population increases the risk of transmission of the dengue virus. In addition, the mean temperature for the first half of this year was 0.7 degrees higher than the same period last year. Warmer temperatures result in higher transmission of dengue due to the accelerated development of the Aedes mosquito and shorter incubation period of the dengue virus. Due to our past successes in dengue prevention, the proportion of adults who have had dengue before has progressively decreased from 59% in 2004, to 51% in 2009, and 41% in 2017. This results, however, in lower herd immunity among our population, and a large proportion of Singapore's resident population remains susceptible to dengue. NEA, together with agencies in the Inter-Agency Dengue Task Force and Town Councils, have stepped up housekeeping measures and inspections of common areas to eliminate potential breeding areas. In the first six months of the year, NEA has conducted more than 442,000 inspections island-wide and uncovered about 8,200 mosquito breeding habitats. Sixty percent of the breeding habitats detected were found in residential premises. If we look at the dengue clusters, the proportion of breeding habitats detected in residential premises is even higher at 70%.”
“Mr Speaker, can I take Question Nos 8 to 12 together?”
“We will study how we can help residents. We must also take this into consideration for the kinds of things we have to spend for when we try to tackle bigger issues in the years to come when climate change is upon us. We have not really understood properly how it will affect Singapore. What the Prime Minister has mentioned are only those things that we know can happen and should start working on from now. Issues around pests are, in fact, more dangerous and I will mention it in my next Parliamentary Question reply around mosquitoes. They present a more imminent danger than perhaps what midges will present to us, and not to just particular areas around the reservoirs but, in fact, to the whole of Singapore. So, in consideration of all those issues, yes, we will study them. We will see what we can do for localities. But we also should know that our resources are limited. We have to put focus on important areas and not over-promise on other areas, but rather to over-deliver.”
“I think we will study all these. Thank you.”
“We do monitor for every reservoir and we take the appropriate measures. We do not want a sledgehammer for a small problem or small hammer for a big problem. So, appropriate measures.”
“So, to put in something which would become a permanent fixture, this may also affect the kind of image that the reservoir or the places around the reservoir should be. So, we have to be very careful about the kind of solutions we want to implement with or for them. On BTI, the larvicide that we use to put into the water, it is a safe biological larvicide. It is actually a naturally occurring bacteria, soil bacteria, which produces spores, which are toxic specifically to the digestive system of midge larvae. As we put in the larvicide, we also monitor the quality of the water. We cannot put so much to kill, just because there are more midges in the river. In the end, the quality of the water gets compromised. So, there is a tradeoff between killing enough, or killing too much and we end up killing ourselves. We cannot do that either. There is a limit to which these measures can mitigate the issues that residents are facing. Finally, on trees and shrubs, we can work with NParks to see, first, whether these are actually effective ways to prevent the midges coming in. It is a more beautiful way, definitely, than putting screens. But is it an effective way to prevent the midges from coming into people's homes? We do not want, in the end, to create new problems like people having different kinds of pests because of the kind of trees that we plant near their homes or around the reservoirs.”
“I thank the Member for the questions. I think this is a great opportunity for us to go back to our biology lessons. Like I mentioned before, this problem is really man versus nature, the kind of war man has never been known to win. Indeed, we can only suppress, we can only do our best, but we have to live with nature. In fact, we are the ones who are intruding into their living spaces. Specific answers to the question on fogging. The pesticide we use is called Permethrin. This particular pesticide that we use in fogging has undergone the World Health Organization's (WHO's) pesticide evaluation scheme and has been certified safe and suitable for use. In addition to using a safe pesticide, we also dilute it, dilute it a lot, so that in addition to just thinking about killing these pests, we also do not want to harm the workers who are using them. So, they are used in a way, at a frequency that is known and recommended by WHO to be safe for humans, safe for the operators, as well as for the people that we are trying to help. Secondly, on the insect screens, I think this issue of what you do to help yourself in your home has been well understood. Once you own your property, you own your home, you have to do what you can to protect yourself. Sometimes, we have residents who came to get help, for example, on their leaking pipes or issues which are more pertinent to their own home living conditions. Technically speaking, they should be taking care of these issues. But I think there is no harm, we can see what we can do to help, certainly from the advisors themselves. We can come together and look at what we can do, because this situation does not come all the time, not every year.”
“PUB has explored the use of free-moving oily paper within drains to increase the capture rates of adult midges, which have worked very well, according to feedback from residents. PUB has also extended the existing 0.5 kilometres (km) of netting on the reservoir dyke by an additional one km. This netting acts as a barrier to trap adult midges and reduces the number of adult midges that would otherwise be blown to the residential estate. PUB has worked closely with West Coast Town Council to engage affected residents through multiple channels, such as dialogues, daily walkabouts and distribution of flyers, and has advised affected residents on the actions they can take within their premises, such as, switching off their lights when not in use, as midges are attracted to light, as well as installing insect screens at their windows or drawing their curtains, if necessary. But at the end of the day, we have to recognise that man cannot control nature. Midges cannot be eradicated as they are part of the natural aquatic ecosystem and will emerge to breed, especially when aided by favourable environmental conditions. Climate change, as mentioned, will further complicate our efforts. Our reservoirs supply drinking water to the population and we have to be careful to ensure that – and this is important – PUB's mitigation measures, both short- and long-term, do not end up compromising water quality. However, PUB remains committed to working with the Town Councils and advisors to minimise public inconvenience caused. While PUB will continue to find more effective mitigation measures, we also seek residents' understanding and tolerance, should they find these insects in their homes.”
“The Public Utilities Board (PUB) takes a comprehensive suite of measures to mitigate this nuisance factor as far as is feasible. PUB monitors for midge emergence at reservoirs with known emergence by conducting frequent checks for larvae in samples of reservoir sediments or adult midges trapped around the reservoir vicinity. At Pandan Reservoir, PUB observed an increase in midge larvae since mid-June 2019. PUB kicked in mitigation measures swiftly when the midge emergence began in mid-July 2019. Similar to what I explained to this House previously in 2016, PUB's mitigation measures for midges include increasing the frequency and dosage of the application of biological liquid larvicide within the reservoir to kill midge larvae and increasing the frequency of fogging and misting around the reservoir dyke and surrounding vegetation to kill adult midges. These methods have proven to kill midges at the relevant stages of their lifecycle. PUB has also installed bright spotlights at the Pandan Reservoir pumping station and turn them on at night to attract the adult midges as they emerge from the reservoir. By keeping the midges within the reservoir area, PUB can then carry out targeted and effective measures, such as fogging at these spots. Unlike the midge emergence at Pandan Reservoir in 2016, the current dominant midge species is considered a rare one that has not been studied in great detail. This species exhibits different behaviours from other species. For example, they hide in drains and culverts in the day and swarm above the drains in the evening. PUB has adapted by adding to the usual suite of measures. They have greased the drain walls to trap the midges when they land to rest and have targeted these areas for fogging.”
“Thank you. Non-biting midges, also known as chironomids, are a type of flying insect that thrive in water bodies, such as ponds, rivers and reservoirs. Midges are part of natural aquatic ecosystems and they are food for fishes and birds. Midges can multiply very rapidly, with each female adult midge laying up to 500 eggs in the water bodies. The eggs take a few days to hatch and become larvae, which live at the bottom of the reservoir. After about two weeks, they develop to become pupae, swim to the water surface and emerge as adults. The adult midges live for only one to two days, during which time they remain above water bodies to mate and lay eggs to continue their lifecycle. Midges' emergence occurs from time to time in several reservoirs, including Pandan, Bedok, Punggol, Serangoon, Poyan, Tengeh and Marina reservoirs, as well as Punggol Waterway. Midge emergence has been known to occur at Pandan Reservoir since the late 1970s. Each emergence can be as brief as two weeks or as long as five months. There are several factors that determine the scale and duration of each emergence, including the specific midge species and the environmental conditions, such as rainfall, temperature and water chemistry at time of the emergence. We have just experienced a period of hot weather, with July being the second warmest July recorded since 1929. This unusual hot spell hastened the midges' growth process, resulting in the situation at Pandan Reservoir. With climate change, we will experience more extreme weather, which will have a corresponding response from nature. Midges neither bite nor spread diseases. But they pose a nuisance to the public when they swarm in large numbers and, being weak flyers, get blown by wind into the surrounding residential estates.”
“Mr Speaker, can I take Question Nos 3 to 7 together?”
“Singapore recycles, on average, around 60% of our total waste generated. In 2018, about 30% of recyclable material, such as paper, plastics, glass and metal, was exported to countries, including Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea and Thailand for processing and recycling. While the bulk of recyclables are already processed locally, my Ministry recognises the need for Singapore to continue building up our local recycling capabilities. This will allow us to better extract resources from waste and close the waste loop through adopting a circular economy approach. The National Environment Agency is currently studying e-waste and plastics recycling solutions and technologies available in the market and assessing their suitability for adoption in Singapore in terms of both environmental and economic sustainability.”
“Given that this is the first year of implementation, we are monitoring the progress of the carbon tax. We are prepared to spend more than the estimated $1 billion that will be collected in carbon taxes over the next five years to help our industry and companies improve their carbon efficiency and reduce their emissions. We are also mindful of the need to reduce our carbon emissions from new developments. Changi Terminal 5 is still in the design stage and the carbon footprint has not yet been determined. Changi Airport Group and its consultants are exploring solutions to improve the terminal's energy efficiency.”
“I believe that Nominated Member of Parliament Ms Anthea Ong is referring to the study undertaken by the National Parks Board (NParks) to measure greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and removals from Singapore's Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) sector. As a party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Singapore reports our total GHG inventory across various sectors in our National Communications (NC) and Biennial Update Reports (BUR). In this regard, NParks undertook a study from 2013 to 2018 to set up a system to measure GHG emissions and removals from Singapore's LULUCF sector. Latest estimates for the reporting year 2014 indicate that the LULUCF sector accounts for about 0.1% of Singapore's net GHG emissions. Details were reported in Singapore's third BUR last year. The study also found that our nature reserves, mangroves and trees in urban areas served as key carbon sinks that offer significant GHG removals. The BUR is subject to stringent review by international experts under the UNFCCC's International Consultation and Analysis process. Singapore has been commended for its robust, scientifically sound and comprehensive reporting standards of its LULUCF sector. Singapore has comprehensive measures to reduce our carbon emissions. The carbon tax of $5 per tonne of GHG emissions, which came into effect in January this year, is intended to send an economy-wide price signal to incentivise companies to reduce their emissions where it makes the most business sense. This tax will cover about 80% of our total GHG emissions and complements Singapore's suite of mitigation measures to incentivise emissions reduction and transition to a low carbon economy.”
“The scrap rubber material is located within one of the plots at Sarimbun Recycling Park (SRP). As the public has no access to the plot and SRP is sited on an old landfill, these materials do not pose any health or environmental risks. There has also been no impact on the operations at surrounding plots in SRP or on the vegetation surrounding SRP. The SRP plot where the scrap rubber material is located was leased to Morelastic Green Resources Pte Ltd. However, the tenancy was terminated in January 2019 as the company incurred substantial rental arrears. Under the tenancy agreement, it is the tenant's responsibility to remove the scrap rubber. Morelastic Green Resources Pte Ltd has started clearing the stockpile since 17 June 2019 and has removed most of the stockpile. The National Environment Agency (NEA) will then reinstate the land, including removal of any remaining stockpile, and recover the associated costs from the company. NEA will also investigate and take firm enforcement action against any environmental public health offences committed.”
“Food delivery companies are responsible for ensuring that the food they deliver is transported in a manner that does not compromise food safety. This includes maintaining the cleanliness of the vehicle, as well as the receptacle and equipment used for the transportation of food, and storing food at the correct temperature. Failure to do so would constitute an offence under the Sale of Food Act and the Environmental Public Health Act. To ensure food safety, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has been engaging food delivery companies on the need to adopt good practices in food hygiene and safety. SFA will continue to monitor the industry closely and will tighten requirements to maintain food safety standards if this becomes necessary.”
“In 2018, 763,000 tonnes of food waste were generated. Of this, half was from residential households. The remainder was from other sources, which include food manufacturers, hotels, shopping malls and hawker centres. The National Environment Agency (NEA) does not track the specific amount of food waste generated from food industries, food and beverage outlets, markets and supermarkets. Food waste segregation and treatment for residential households are currently undertaken on a voluntary basis. From August to October last year, my Ministry conducted a household food waste segregation pilot at Tampines GreenLace. The initial results from the pilot were encouraging and more than 4,000 kilogrammes (kg) of food waste was collected over three months. The pilot has been extended upon the request of residents, and my Ministry is currently monitoring the extended pilot together with our partner Zero Waste SG. For commercial and industrial premises, 23 premises have obtained funding support through NEA's 3R Fund to install onsite food waste treatment systems. Another 23 premises have been segregating their food waste and sending it for treatment at the Ulu Pandan Water Reclamation Facility, where it is co-digested with used water sludge. From 2024, my Ministry will require commercial and industrial premises that generate large amounts of food waste to undertake food waste segregation for treatment. From 2021, developers of new developments where large amounts of food waste are expected to be generated will also be required to allocate space for onsite food waste treatment in their building plans. These regulations will be put into effect through the Resource Sustainability Bill that is to be introduced in Parliament.”
“For example, we can opt out of receiving disposable cutlery when ordering food for takeaway or delivery, or we can bring our own reusable bags and containers and take only the plastic bags we need. The support of the public, businesses and the community is key to successfully reducing our packaging waste.”
“This will increase companies' awareness of the potential for waste reduction in their business operations. Companies should take action to reduce the amount of packaging used and minimise waste generation at source. This mandatory reporting framework will also lay the foundation for an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework for managing packaging waste, including plastics, which NEA will put in place no later than 2025. Besides reducing waste, we are taking actions to increase our recycling rate. For example, we are working with the industry to tap on the Towards Zero Waste Grant to roll out 50 reverse vending machines starting this year. Through this initiative, we hope to engage the public to consciously recycle used polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles and aluminium cans. At the same time, we are developing the local recycling industry. We want to better extract resources from waste and close the waste loop through a circular economy approach. NEA is currently studying recycling solutions and technologies and assessing their suitability for adoption in Singapore. This may include mechanical recycling to turn waste plastics into plastic pellets for manufacturing new products, or chemical recycling to turn plastic waste into chemical feedstock or fuel. The Government will work with industry stakeholders to explore how these technologies can be applied to Singapore, such that it is both environmentally and economically sustainable. These are efforts which could help grow local enterprises and create good jobs for Singaporeans. Everyone needs to play our part to reduce packaging waste, including single-use plastics. We can do this in different ways.”
“Packaging waste, including plastics, is one of the three priority waste streams in Singapore. To tackle this issue, my Ministry and the National Environment Agency (NEA) have adopted a holistic approach to reduce the excessive use of all types of packaging, not just single-use plastics. We do not target plastics alone. The NEA conducted a life-cycle assessment of single-use carrier bags and disposables and found that substituting plastics with other types of single-use packaging materials is not necessarily better for the environment. As such, our focus is to promote the use of reusables. NEA recently launched the nationwide "Say YES to Waste Less" campaign to drive awareness of the impact of excessive consumption of disposables and the need for reduction. Some 1,600 premises, ranging from retailers, food and beverage establishments, supermarkets, hotels, Community Development Councils, grassroots organisations, schools and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), have come forward to partner NEA. Partners commit to actions, such as prompting customers to bring along reusables, encouraging them to decline disposable cutlery with online orders and displaying campaign visuals at cashier points. NEA has also launched the "Towards Zero Waste Grant" to support individuals, interest groups, NGOs, grassroots organisations and corporations to initiate or scale up waste reduction and recycling initiatives. Moving upstream, starting next year, NEA will require brand owners, manufacturers and importers of packaged goods, as well as supermarkets with an annual turnover exceeding $10 million to report information on the packaging they place on the market, and their plans for reducing, reusing or recycling packaging annually.”
“Effective source reduction by all stakeholders is key to preventing the formation of dengue clusters and disrupting the transmission cycles of the dengue virus in our community.”
“The National Environment Agency (NEA) has conducted scientific studies to study the risk of dengue transmission across Singapore. One example is the use of big data and geographic information systems to analyse mosquito breeding and dengue transmission patterns. These studies have found that the risk of dengue transmission increases with higher population density, Aedes aegypti population, extent of urbanisation and historical incidence of dengue. This provides a useful guide for NEA's vector control operations. For instance, before the traditional dengue season every year, NEA deploys additional manpower to areas identified as higher risk to conduct intensive source reduction activities to remove mosquito breeding habitats. Throughout the year, NEA conducts routine inspections and search-and-destroy operations guided by data collected by the Aedes surveillance system, which comprises 50,000 Gravitraps deployed island-wide. Developed inhouse, Gravitraps are designed to attract and trap adult female Aedes mosquitoes, the vector responsible for the transmission of dengue, chikungunya and zika. The surveillance system shows that a persistently high Aedes aegypti population increases the risk of localised dengue transmission and the odds of a dengue cluster forming. An additional 14,000 Gravitraps are progressively being deployed to increase the area of coverage. Everyone has a part to play in preventing the spread of dengue. Between January and June this year, about 70% of mosquito breeding habitats detected in dengue clusters were found in homes. The community must play its part and step up the eradication of mosquito breeding habitats by practising the 5-step Mozzie Wipe-out regularly.”
“The National Environment Agency (NEA) received about 19,000 and 25,000 instances of feedback related to smoking in 2017 and 2018 respectively. In 2018, more than 30,000 tickets were issued by NEA for smoking in prohibited places, up from more than 22,000 tickets in 2017. NEA has made about 90 thermal camera deployments in residential areas with persistent feedback on smoking issues since January 2019. The thermal cameras complement NEA's surveillance in smoking-prohibited places to detect unlawful smoking at common corridors, lift lobbies or staircase landings. These thermal cameras are able to detect objects emitting high heat and capture images of the smoking offence. NEA uses the images captured by the thermal cameras, along with other forms of evidence, such as public feedback, for investigations. Thus far, about 70% of the deployments have captured smoking incidences, and NEA is investigating these cases. NEA will take enforcement action against smoking offenders whose identities have been established. I urge smokers to be mindful of the health of others and not light up in smoking-prohibited places. Families and friends of smokers, as well as the general public, can help reinforce the right social norms through reminders. Ultimately, we want to help smokers kick the habit for the benefit of their own health, their loved ones and the community.”
“Between January and May 2019, the National Environment Agency (NEA) conducted more than 372,000 inspections which uncovered about 6,500 instances of mosquito breeding. About 900 enforcement actions were taken against households, including three repeat offenders. Another 950 enforcement actions were taken against other premises, which include construction sites and commercial premises. The total number of enforcement actions taken for mosquito breeding has generally increased between 2016 and 2018. To safeguard public health, NEA will not hesitate to take enforcement action against anyone found to be breeding mosquitoes. NEA last reviewed the penalty regime in 2016 to impose a fine on all households detected with mosquito breeding, and not just those found with breeding within active dengue clusters. Under the Control of Vectors and Pesticides Act, owners whose premises are found with mosquito breeding may be fined up to $5,000 or imprisoned for a term not exceeding three months or both, with heavier penalties for subsequent convictions. NEA will monitor the enhanced regime to ensure that the penalties for mosquito breeding are appropriate and have sufficient deterrent effect.”
“NEA is stepping up efforts to stem dengue transmission. Over 440 dengue prevention events have been organised since the launch of this year's National Dengue Prevention Campaign in April. However, the Government alone cannot prevent dengue transmission in Singapore. I encourage everyone, including our silver generation, to be an advocate of dengue prevention and to remind our family members and neighbours to join in this national effort.”
“As of 29 June, there were over 6,100 reported dengue cases in 2019, which are about four times the number of cases in the same period in 2018. We are entering the traditional peak dengue season and a national collective effort is critical to stem the transmission of dengue. Inspections conducted by the National Environment Agency (NEA) showed that 60% of all Aedes aegypti breeding habitats detected were in homes. This proportion was even higher in dengue clusters, with 74% of breeding habitats detected in homes. Therefore, home owners play a crucial role in keeping dengue at bay. I urge all residents to take immediate action to eradicate potential mosquito breeding habitats by practising the five-step Mozzie Wipeout regularly and stepping up housekeeping measures. All residents living in cluster areas should also cooperate with NEA officers to facilitate checks and carry out indoor misting in homes. Community support is an integral part of the national effort to raise awareness and drive action on the ground. NEA, together with Dengue Prevention Volunteers, works closely with Grassroots Advisers, Neighbourhood Committees (NCs) and Residents’ Committees (RCs) to reach out to residents. NCs and RCs can assist households with elderly members to check their homes and remove stagnant water to prevent mosquito breeding. Households can take preventive measures, such as avoiding the use of flowerpot plates for ornamental plants. Home owners with roof gutters that are difficult to access can engage pest control operators to check for stagnant water and apply Bacillus Thuringiensis subspecies Israelensis (BTI) insecticide, if they are unable to do so themselves. A typical BTI briquette can remain effective for about 30 days.”
“Water fixtures and fittings, such as pipes and water taps, undergo natural wear and tear and require periodic repair and maintenance. It is the responsibility of home owners to maintain these fixtures and fittings to ensure that there is no water leakage within their homes. Water meter readings are taken by SP Services, the Public Utilities Board's (PUB's) billing agent, once every two months. If SP Services detects exceptionally high or low usage, SP Services and PUB will carry out checks and investigations. If the meter is faulty, PUB will replace the meter. If the leak is suspected to involve home water fixtures and fittings, PUB will alert the home owner to look into it. Residents who suspect leaks in their homes can turn off all the taps in the house and check their water meters. If the water meter counter dial is still running, there may be a leak in the home. The resident should then engage a licensed plumber to trace and repair the leak. Residents can also contact SP Services to request for the meter to be checked By 2023, PUB will install 300,000 smart water meters in new and existing premises through the first phase of its Smart Water Meter Programme. Once rolled out, residents with smart meters will have ready access to their daily water usage data through a mobile application or an online portal and be promptly alerted to suspected leaks.”
“Making recycling more convenient is, indeed, part of the approach that my Ministry and the National Environment Agency (NEA) are taking to improve recycling rates. Every Housing and Development Board (HDB) block is currently provided with a recycling bin, and all new Build-to-Order flats launched since 2014 have a recycling chute next to the waste chute, making recycling as convenient as the disposing of general waste. In addition, as suggested by the Member, NEA is working with the Public Waste Collectors and the Town Councils to progressively demarcate the location of recycling bins. NEA is also working with other stakeholders on the ground, including the Town Councils, to ensure that sufficient general waste bins are available. Besides reviewing the infrastructure needed to better support recycling, public education is key in reducing the contamination rate of our recyclables. This is why my Ministry and NEA launched a #RecycleRight campaign as part of the Year Towards Zero Waste to raise awareness of what can and cannot be recycled. We are also working with our people, private and public (3P) partners to redesign the recycling bin labels to reflect what can and cannot be recycled more clearly, and to emphasise that food and liquids should not be thrown into the recycling bins as they would contaminate the recyclables.”
“These international forums are studying the use of capital and other regulatory requirements to promote sustainable financing. As capital requirements are intended to ensure that banks have sufficient capacity to withstand losses, any reduction in capital should be justified by lower risks posed by exposure to sustainable financing. Third, MAS is working with local and international partners to strengthen the capability and capacity of the financial sector to support sustainable financing activities. For example, MAS has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the International Finance Corporation, which aims to raise the awareness and knowledge of green bonds through capacity-building workshops. The continued growth of sustainable financing requires a coordinated and collective effort involving the financial sector, businesses, the Government and civil society. My Ministry will continue to work closely with MAS and other Government agencies to support our sustainable financing efforts and drive climate action in Singapore.”
“We need to mobilise private capital to support sustainable development and facilitate the region's transition to a low-carbon and climate resilient economy. My Ministry works closely with the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) to promote sustainable financing in Singapore and the region. Let me outline our efforts in three key areas. First, non-bank financing solutions like green bonds can play a bigger role in the financing of green investments. MAS introduced the Green Bond Grant Scheme in 2017 to spur the use of capital market instruments for green financing and to promote the adoption of standards for green investment products. The grant helps to offset the cost of obtaining an external review to ensure that the green bonds are aligned with internationally accepted standards. In February this year, the grant scheme was expanded to include social and sustainability bonds and was renamed the Sustainable Bond Grant Scheme (SBGS). To date, over S$6 billion of green bonds have been issued in Singapore. MAS has also lowered the minimum issuance size requirement for SBGS, which will allow more qualifying issuers to access the grant. Second, MAS is working closely with banks to strengthen their management of environmental risks and support sustainable financing. Over the past years, the banks have been enhancing their relevant policies and processes. In April this year, our local banks announced their decisions to cease financing of new coal-fired power plants and are working with their customers to make the transition to cleaner forms of energy production. As a member of the Network for Greening the Financial System, MAS works closely with our international counterparts to develop best practices for banks to manage environmental risks and seize opportunities.”
“Located in a region with long coastlines and heavily-populated low-lying areas, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states (AMS) are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. ASEAN's efforts to tackle climate change have been directed towards sustainable development and the building of smart and efficient cities, which also support the growth of a green economy. ASEAN cooperation on climate change is under the purview of the ASEAN Working Group on Climate Change (AWGCC). As Chair for the period 2017 to 2019, Singapore works closely with AMS and international development partners to drive the implementation of the AWGCC Action Plan (2016-2025), which covers climate adaptation and mitigation, capability building, climate finance, and cross-sectoral coordination. AMS are currently working on 18 projects and activities endorsed by the AWGCC. Singapore also launched the Climate Action Package at the Special ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Climate Action last July, to provide training and capacity building for participating countries to take climate mitigation and adaptation measures which, in turn, also help to make their economies more resilient. Singapore has also been driving action at the city level. One of our key initiatives as ASEAN Chair last year was the establishment of the ASEAN Smart Cities Network, a collaborative platform for AMS to work towards smart and sustainable development. Singapore will continue to support Thailand as the current Chair of ASEAN to advance this work under its "Advancing Partnership for Sustainability" agenda. However, Governments cannot tackle climate change alone.”
“Since 2015, the National Environment Agency has been running a food waste reduction campaign to encourage everyone to "Buy, Order or Cook Just Enough". Educational materials, such as the Food Waste Reduction Handy Guide, are shared online and at road shows. We also work with interest groups and non-governmental organisations, such as Food Bank Singapore and Food from the Heart, to increase awareness and drive action in the community. We have developed food waste minimisation guidebooks for food retail establishments, supermarkets and food manufacturing establishments, which guide owners and operators of food and beverage businesses to implement measures to reduce food waste across the supply chain. Guidelines on the proper handling and redistribution of unsold or excess food are incorporated to facilitate food redistribution. I urge everyone to play our part in making green and sustainable lifestyle choices, so as to reduce our carbon footprint and strive towards a zero-waste nation.”
“We are also taking steps to protect Singapore against climate change impacts. For example, we have invested in technologies, such as NEWater and desalination, as well as in new drainage infrastructure to strengthen our water supply and flood resilience. But we cannot combat climate change through the efforts of the Government alone. That is why Singapore designated 2018 the Year of Climate Action to encourage collective climate action in the community. To date, more than 340,000 individuals, organisations and institutions have pledged to reduce their carbon footprint. The production and consumption of goods account for the bulk of global greenhouse gas emissions. It is, therefore, critical that we produce and consume sustainably, and strive towards a zero-waste nation. We designated 2019 the Year Towards Zero Waste to galvanise the public and stakeholders to practise the 3Rs, and adopt circular economy approaches that keep resources in use for as long as possible. We will launch the inaugural Zero Waste Masterplan this year, which outlines our strategies to tackle the priority waste streams of e-waste, food waste and packaging waste, supported by research and development and industry development. A combination of measures is used to tackle packaging waste and e-waste, including public campaigns, voluntary agreements and regulatory requirements on producers. We recently launched the "Say YES to Waste Less" campaign with 59 partners across more than 1,600 outlets, to encourage consumers to use reusables, such as reusable bags, and reduce the use of disposables. To reduce food waste, our approach includes raising awareness of food waste reduction and promoting excess food redistribution.”
“A clean, green and liveable environment is necessary for Singaporeans to lead healthy lives. We pursue sustainable development by taking a long-term and integrated approach to planning and implementation. The Sustainable Singapore Blueprint (SSB) charts out the measures and targets to support sustainable development. These include planning for parks and green spaces in housing estates, enhancing public transport, and introducing eco-friendly features in Housing and Development Board flats, such as rooftop greenery, solar panels, dual chutes for recycling and smart metering. These features are being implemented progressively and will also be incorporated in new sustainable districts, such as Punggol Digital District, Jurong Lake District and Tengah Estate. The SSB goes beyond hardware to also cover "heartware". My Ministry works closely with other Government agencies and community partners on ground-up initiatives that help make Singapore an endearing and liveable home. Residents can participate in environmental programmes, such as litter picking, recycling and energy and water conservation activities. However, our sustainable development journey is not without challenges. Climate change is a key existential threat for Singapore, and we are taking concerted action to tackle it. To meet our Paris Agreement goals, we have a suite of measures to reduce greenhouse gases across all sectors of the economy. This includes incentivising the adoption of energy-efficient technologies and cleaner forms of energy. We also implemented a carbon tax this year to further our transition towards a low-carbon economy. To provide a sound scientific basis for planning and climate adaptation, we established the Centre for Climate Research Singapore in 2013.”
“Yes. There is a constant exchange, as mentioned just now, between SCDF and BOMBA of Malaysia, as well as between NEA and DOE of Malaysia, to exchange information as new factories come up and the kind of risks and protection that they have put in place for each to respond to each other. BOMBA and SCDF carry out very regular joint exercises at our borders to work together and cooperate.”
“I thank the Member for the supplementary questions. As I had said, all the monitoring stations that I mentioned just now are permanent deployments. These are to detect the ambient levels of VOCs as well as the pollutants in our air. However, when there are complaints from residents of persistent odours or smell that inconvenience them or cause them alarm, SCDF would also then put in the monitoring instruments to ensure that these are either non-existent or, if they are detected, to take the appropriate measures to advise accordingly. As for low constant VOCs, there are very few studies available to advise how much of it should be of concern to us at the ambient level. In fact, all countries except one that we know of, do not even publish their VOCs on their websites. Usually, these are small. Actually, many of us are, in one form or another, already exposed to VOCs on a daily basis like from the glues and the things that we handle regularly. Therefore, when we publish, for example, the PSI, it is based on benchmarks that have been established from proper medical impact of such pollutants or chemicals by bodies like the World Health Organization (WHO) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from the US. Can I ask the Member to repeat the last question?”
“Both NEA and SCDF are aware of the kinds of chemical industries existing today in Pasir Gudang. It is our existing arrangement to inform each other to ensure that if there are movements of major complexes, we inform each other. So, in this case, when they do and if they do relocate, we will be informed.”
“NEA’s existing air monitoring stations in the northeast region are able to measure the ambient concentration of a variety of VOCs, including benzene, toluene and xylene, in the parts per billion range. These capabilities, and with the support of SCDF’s portable detectors, should allow us to detect a transboundary plume and to alert our population accordingly.”
“Thank you. The National Environment Agency (NEA) monitors and reports the air quality in Singapore through a network of five national air quality monitoring stations across the island. These stations are representative of the ambient air quality of the North, South, East, West and Central regions. Criteria pollutants, namely, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone and particulate matter (PM), both PM2.5 and PM10, are continuously monitored and reported on an hourly basis as the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI). In addition, NEA monitors the coastal water quality continuously through buoy-based monitoring sensors deployed in eight locations around Singapore, including the Straits of Johor. This is supplemented by monthly collection samples from 48 sampling points around Singapore. From 2008 to 2018, the air and water quality in the northeast region was comparable to the rest of Singapore, including during the northeast monsoon period. The air and water quality in Singapore has not been affected by the recent pollution incidents in Pasir Gudang. The ambient levels of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in the northeast region were also well within safe limits. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) also deployed portable standoff chemical gas detectors in the northeast and did not detect any toxic chemicals in the air. NEA and SCDF are in contact with Malaysia’s Department of Environment (DOE) and Fire and Rescue Department (BOMBA) on this latest incident and will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates if there are significant developments. Our agencies have put in place precautionary measures to guard against any potential pollution impacts arising from chemical incidents, including those from transboundary sources.”
“Mr Speaker, may I take Question Nos 1 and 2 together, please?”
“To safeguard Singapore's water security, the Public Utilities Board (PUB), Singapore's National Water Agency, issued a 30-day notice to Tuaspring Pte Ltd (TPL) on 17 April 2019 to terminate the Water Purchase Agreement (WPA) between PUB and TPL. After the termination of the WPA, PUB will take over, own and operate the Tuaspring Desalination Plant (TSDP), similar to the Tuas Desalination Plant which PUB currently operates. PUB has the operational capabilities, experience and manpower to operate TSDP. PUB's immediate focus is to put in place the necessary measures and upgrading works to restore TSDP's ability to produce desalinated water reliably. PUB is working through the implementation details with TPL to facilitate a smooth handover. PUB will have a better estimate on the costs of operations after taking over TSDP. PUB will always act to ensure Singapore’s water security and will not allow it to be compromised.”
“The National Environment Agency (NEA), together with local startup Orinno Technology Pte Ltd, has developed a "Smart Gravitrap" prototype. The Smart Gravitrap is similar to a standard gravitrap and is able to attract and trap female Aedes mosquitos looking for sites to lay their eggs. In addition, the Smart Gravitrap captures the mosquito’s flight signature to identify its species and gender and transmits this information to NEA. This allows NEA officers to conduct data collection and analysis remotely, reducing the reliance on manpower to manually collect data from Gravitraps. NEA is currently preparing for a six-month pilot trial of the Smart Gravitrap prototypes at two construction sites in the second half of 2019. The data collected from this trial will help to further guide the design of the Smart Gravitrap, as it moves into the product development phase. NEA will review the results of the trial before deciding on the operational plans for Smart Gravitraps.”
“Both Singapore and Johor authorities check the water very vigorously. In fact, we are usually alerted by of our counterparts in Johor that the water is polluted, either with ammonia or other contaminants, before the water comes to us because the Johor plants are upstream. And indeed, they have to close down their plants before we do. And maybe a few hours or a few days later, in coordination with our counterparts, we turn up operations at our plants. We are not in control of how their land is allocated or where factories are. But we certainly are in collaboration with both their Department of Environment as well as their waterworks to make sure that should incidents like this occur, alerts can be given early enough for both parties to act. 12.00 pm”
“In practice, we have been selling Johor 16 mgd of treated water, which is in excess of their entitlement, at Johor's request. We do so on a goodwill basis without prejudice to our rights under the 1962 Water Agreement. When we are unable to import any water from Johor due to pollution, Singapore has no obligation to supply treated water to Malaysia. During these pollution incidents, PUB works closely with the Johor authorities to flush the polluted water column from the Johor River. Such collaboration between PUB and its Johor counterparts has helped us to manage the pollution incidents. PUB conducts stringent water quality tests to ensure that the raw water from the Johor River is suitable for treatment before resuming abstractions and operations. During such temporary disruptions, PUB steps up production at desalination plants and local waterworks to meet Singapore's demand. Nevertheless, pollution incidents along the Johor River impact the water supply of both countries and remain a serious concern. We will continue to engage our Malaysian counterparts on the need for them to take measures to prevent future pollution incidents along the Johor River.”
“Mr Speaker, I would like to reiterate the written reply I had issued yesterday in response to Mr Seah Kian Peng's Parliamentary Question. The Public Utilities Board (PUB) will shut down its Johor River Waterworks when the Johor River is affected by pollution upstream of our waterworks. Johor also has water treatment plants along the Johor River, upstream of the Johor River Waterworks, and will shut down their plants when pollution occurs upstream of them. Since 2017, there have been seven pollution incidents along the Johor River which caused PUB's Johor River Waterworks to be temporarily shut down. These incidents have been traced to illegal discharges from premises, such as palm oil mills and chicken farms within the catchment area. These pollution incidents typically cause disruptions ranging from several hours to several days. So far this year, there have been two pollution incidents, with the most recent one on 4 April 2019, where there were high ammonia levels in the Johor River. Given the importance of the Johor River to the water supply of both Singapore and Johor, we have expressed our concern over the frequent recurrence of pollution incidents to Malaysia, both at the federal and state levels. Most recently, at the Singapore-Malaysia Leaders' Retreat in April, Prime Minister Lee raised concerns over pollution in the Johor River and the severe impact of pollution incidents on both countries. Under the 1962 Water Agreement, Singapore is entitled to draw 250 million gallons per day (mgd) of water from the Johor River, while Johor is entitled to buy treated water up to 2% of the total quantity of water we import to Singapore on any given day, or about five mgd, when Singapore draws its full entitlement.”
“The Government also supports capability-building initiatives as they are key to companies understanding and incorporating ESG risks and opportunities across their core businesses. For example, MAS is working with insurers to anchor ESG research, modelling capabilities and underwriting teams in Singapore to catalyse the development of innovative ESG products. These are encouraging developments. MEWR will continue to work with MAS to support our green financing efforts and steer the broader conversation on sustainable development. This will guide efforts in priority areas, such as climate mitigation and adaptation and resource efficiency, as we transition to a resource-efficient and low-carbon future.”