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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“Even for public housing, our Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats, we do not specify which unit exactly where the breeding happens. It is enough for the information that, in this particular building or block, that is a cluster, because there is more than one and there is a chance that it was infected by one or the other. Therefore, it is enough for people to take heed and to know that some form of transmission is happening and take more precaution to go round their house to eradicate the source of breeding. Therefore, I think it is not important to know the exact unit. That is taken care of by NEA. That is their role. Everyone's role is to ensure that there is no breeding at home and then, if there are adult mosquitoes, particularly seen in large numbers in the condominium, to do the fogging as appropriate.”
“May I clarify with the Member what kind of information is not shared?”
“Madam, I wish the mosquitoes can calculate as well. But mosquitoes do not calculate. They just go to where there are humans and there is water to breed. And whether it is a construction site or a home, it should be of equal concern to us. The real difference is accessibility. For construction sites, our officers can come in anytime. They can impose appropriate orders on them to clean up, put in the right officers, and step up on their housekeeping. But we cannot say similarly for homes. Therefore, even in terms of per home basis, we are actually far better than what has been prescribed by WHO. We should not rest on our laurels. Every mosquito that hatches, a female mosquito will hatch a further 300 eggs. They grow exponentially. We just leave the breeding untouched. Therefore, whether it is home or construction site, we must be as vigilant, and I think we also should educate our constituents that it is not just about the construction site. We will do our best to suppress the source of breeding if it occurs there. But everyone must do their part to make sure they do the five "mozzie wipeout" steps as a daily habit to ensure that they do not give the mosquitoes a chance to breed.”
“As I mentioned in my Statement just now, fogging is effective if done properly, if done by a licensed professional. We have to fog when there is a cluster because it means that there are adult mosquitoes infecting the population or to prevent those mosquitoes which are not yet infecting from infecting. So, that is the primary reason why we do fogging. But we cannot just do fogging. I know everyone likes fogging because it is very visual, everyone can see it and everyone feels better, but it does not solve the problem. It must be done together with source eradication, whether it is a construction site or our homes. Indeed, at our homes, whenever the fogging is done, they close up their homes. And, therefore, it does not get into the homes. The other thing we could do is misting, which means that in some Town Councils as well as dormitories, we do misting to make the chemical stick on the wall and it lasts longer. But we cannot do this very often either. As I mentioned just now, there are also side effects of using the same chemical over and over again so frequently that the mosquitoes may become immune to those insecticides. And this has already happened. In fact, some insecticides are not used at all nowadays because we have overused them. A word of caution for everybody and I am glad that, as I watched my phone, the headlines that are coming out are that there are many myths to fogging and we hope that we are doing accurate, better fogging than just more fogging.”
“We are calibrating the Wolbachia mosquitoes, so to speak, from October onwards, for about six months. Singapore is a very unique built-up area. In other areas, they just have to fly horizontally. We have to know whether these mosquitoes will fly high and how high and whether they will survive long enough in our urban environment. So, after six months, if successful – and I hope it is successful so that we do not have to recalibrate again – we can then deploy them across for small-scale study and field suppression trials. And then if successful, we will roll it out for higher-risk areas. The whole programme will take up to 2020.”
“On the question of whether we should focus more on construction areas near residential sites, Singapore is a very built-up area. So, most construction sites are around homes. Therefore, it is not the primary factor why we go to that site or not. We have risk factors. And now, indeed, we have extended the coverage to beyond the construction sites to the dormitories where the workers come from.”
“Mdm Speaker, there was a question about section 36. To date, this year, before the detection of Zika, there were 13 section 36 orders served and, after Zika, 24 such orders were served. Of these 24, three were found with breeding but with very few larvae.”
“And if these actions are not sufficient, if WHO or other experts tell us to do other things that will help us to fight it, we will definitely take it up.”
“I thank the Member for the questions. I think, firstly, we should not go overboard by implementing more measures and also adding more costs when we can do things well publicly. The combination of the CVPA measures, which include having an ECO on site for those construction sites exceeding $50 million and a part-time one every two weeks for those between $10 million and $50 million, we think this is sufficient. Again, I would like to stress the importance of having the support of all the premises owners, including construction site supervisors, so that they do not let their eyes off the ball. Sometimes, there are dry seasons; the rain may not fall and, therefore, there may not be any mosquitoes. But the Aedes aegypti mosquito can breed any time of the year. Therefore, we must never let our vigilance down. We are thankful that the Singapore Contractors Association (SCAL) continues to encourage the supervisors to be on the look-out, always be on their toes, so that whether it is their site or their workers, they must care for them enough not to allow the mosquitoes to breed and, therefore, spread Zika or dengue. We have also extended our CVPA to the dormitories because it is a good precautionary measure, although this is not a construction site. The workers live there and they may also spread or transmit to one another. Therefore, CVPA will require the dormitory owners to step up their housekeeping of the premises as well as misting quarterly, to ensure that mosquitoes, if they were ever to exist in that place, will die if they were to land on the walls, because this is where most of them would be during the nights when they are resting. So, we must continue to work with them. We will monitor.”
“Let us all continue together to keep our boots on the ground, keep calm and carry on. Mdm Speaker, in Malay, please. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] We are on the right track. Our strategy of rigorous mosquito control and our well-coordinated public education efforts have been commended by WHO as well as the US' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Everyone – the Sovernment agencies, premises owners, businesses, residents, the community – has a role in our fight against dengue and Zika. For home owners, let us continue to perform the steps to "Do the Mozzie Wipeout". For the contractors and dormitory operators, please maintain proper housekeeping at the building sites and dormitories. For the Town Councils, please help to eliminate the potential breeding sites in the common areas and undertake fogging sensibly. All these efforts are our insurance against a widespread outbreak. Let us all continue to keep our boots on the ground, keep calm and carry on in our fight against this disease.”
“NEA has also served CVPA orders to four dormitories to impose stricter requirements on them to maintain good housekeeping, check for mosquito breeding, clear stagnant water regularly, carry out thermal fogging if the mosquito population is high, and mandatory residual spraying in their premises on a quarterly basis. Communication is key in any public health situation. Together with MOH, we have provided updates of our efforts and actions through the daily media briefings. Up-to-date information on the Zika clusters has been put up on the NEA website since last Wednesday. We have also engaged our community partners to conduct extensive outreach to the residents in the Zika clusters. Over the past two weekends, outreach activities supporting the Mozzie Wipeout Movement Against Zika were conducted all over Singapore to remove stagnant water in common areas, dispose of discarded receptacles properly, and distribute Zika information leaflets to the residents. Let me reiterate our gratitude for the support of the public and our partners and the many volunteers who have worked tirelessly with us. Mdm Speaker, we are on the right track. Our strategy of rigorous mosquito control efforts and coordinated public education has been commended by WHO and US' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Everyone – the Government agencies, premises owners, businesses, residents, the community – has a role in our fight against dengue and Zika. Home owners, please "Do the Mozzie Wipeout". Contractors and dormitory operators, please maintain proper housekeeping. Town Councils, please help eliminate potential breeding sites in the common areas and undertake fogging sensibly. It is our insurance against a widespread outbreak.”
“Every day, around 300 NEA officers, contractors and volunteers carry out vector control efforts and outreach in these clusters. As of 11 September 2016, more than 31,000 premises in the various Zika clusters have been inspected for mosquito breeding. More than 200 mosquito breedings have been detected and destroyed in the clusters. In the Zika clusters, thermal fogging outdoors and indoor spraying of premises have been carried out to kill adult mosquitoes and the drains have been flushed to remove any stagnant water as an added precaution. At this point, I would like to thank the residents in the Zika clusters for their show of support and cooperation to our officers. They willingly opened up their homes for our officers to do their inspections and helpfully pointed out areas of concern to them for action. Again, we need everyone to step up and forward to help take good care of our homes and neighbourhoods so that we can all maintain good health. NEA has also inspected the construction sites and workers' dormitories in the Zika clusters. An SWO) was issued to the construction site at Sims Drive on 27 August 2016 to curtail the local Zika transmission as the site had failed to maintain satisfactory housekeeping and to eliminate potential mosquito breeding habitats. NEA has, in fact, been working regularly with the Singapore Contractors Association (SCAL) and Senior Minister of State Amy Khor recently met them again to drive home the point that their construction site supervisors would need to be more vigilant about mosquito control and to look out for any workers with Zika symptoms. With the threat of Zika, all SCAL members will be conducting Mozzie Wipeout exercises in their sites in the next few weeks.”
“While the current strategy has kept the mosquito population here low, we are exploring new methods to further tackle the mosquito problem. I recently announced plans to trial a novel method of suppressing the mosquito population through the release of male Aedes aegypti mosquitos carrying Wolbachia to mate with wild female Wolbachia-free Aedes mosquitos. Eggs produced from the mating between the male Wolbachia-carrying Aedes aegypti mosquito and a wild female Aedes aegypti mosquito will not hatch. The trial follows a four-year intensive study and comprehensive risk assessments by NEA's Environment Health Institute (EHI), and support shown by the WHO, the United States (US), Australia, and so on. From October 2016, male Wolbachia-carrying Aedes aegypti mosquitos will be released in three selected sites. If successful, this will complement our existing mosquito control efforts and eventually lead to the suppression of the Aedes aegypti mosquito population and a possible curtailment of dengue or Zika transmission. That said, the Wolbachia technology is not a silver bullet. It will take some years before we can deploy it at scale. And with or without this kind of breakthrough, I want to stress that everyone must still continue with source reduction efforts. Actions after Zika outbreak. Our mosquito control strategy has helped us to suppress dengue over the years and I will now address the questions raised by Mr Christopher de Souza, Mr Dennis Tan and Assoc Prof Daniel Goh, to show that this same strategy has prepared us well to tackle our Zika challenge now. Following MOH's announcement of the first locally transmitted Zika case on 27 August 2016, we immediately alerted the 27 members of our Inter-Agency Dengue Taskforce (IADTF).”
“In 1998, we passed the Control of Vectors and Pesticides Act (CVPA) which allows us to impose Stop Work Orders (SWO) for worksites repeatedly found with poor housekeeping and mosquito breeding habitats. The number of SWOs imposed on errant sites increased from 2013 as a result of a tightened regime. Between January and July this year, NEA issued around 50 SWOs, 410 Notices to Attend Courts and also proceeded with over 40 Court prosecutions of errant contractors for repeat offences. Since 1999, NEA has required all construction sites exceeding $50 million in project value to employ full-time Environmental Control Officers (ECO) while sites between $10 million and $50 million are required to employ part-time ones. There are now around 2,750 ECOs to ensure good housekeeping and proper mosquito control measures in the construction sites all over Singapore. This combination of measures – onsite ECO, outreach, inspections, fines, SWOs – has helped us to bring about a significant reduction in the percentage of inspected construction sites found with mosquito breeding – from 30% in the 1990s to 11% in 2013 to about 9% today. While NEA has given attention to construction sites, I must reiterate that a large number of mosquito breeding sites is, in fact, still found in homes. Earlier this year, given the potentially large number of dengue cases as well as the impending threat of Zika, the NEA renewed the call for everyone to safeguard our own home. Since 14 March 2016, NEA has taken enforcement action against all the home owners found with mosquito breeding, regardless of whether the homes are within the existing dengue clusters, and2,200 households were fined between January and July this year.”
“We must acknowledge that all these extraneous factors make it impossible to eliminate the Aedes aegypti here. Indeed, if we had done anything less, dengue and Zika would have spread throughout the whole island more quickly and thoroughly. Therefore, we are far from helpless and can do much to mitigate the risks. We have put in resources for surveillance. NEA has deployed about 37,000 Gravitraps around Singapore and this number will reach 48,000 by the end of the year. These Gravitraps will allow us to identify areas with a large Aedes aegypti population and take targeted mosquito control measures proactively even if there are no dengue or Zika cases. This sort of risk-based, preventive surveillance work will go on well ahead of any peak transmission season. Inspections and enforcement have also been useful. Dr Tan Wu Meng has asked for the number of site checks conducted by NEA and the proportion of mosquito breeding habitats found. Around 850 officers are deployed daily to do inspections island-wide. Between January and July this year, we conducted about 748,000 inspections – 638,000 of these inspections were in homes and 4,400 in construction sites. More than 10,000 breeding habitats were destroyed during these inspections – about half were in homes and about 5% in construction sites. Besides conducting preventive surveillance, we inspect all the premises and public areas within the cluster, conduct indoor spraying of insecticides and outdoor fogging to kill adult mosquitoes, as well as oiling of breeding habitats to kill any mosquito larvae. For the construction sites, we have stepped up enforcement actions and penalties over the years in addition to imposing fines.”
“That is why we have to emphasise repeatedly that every household must also constantly do the necessary ground actions to remove potential breeding spots in their own homes where it is not easily accessible to our officers. Why does Singapore remain vulnerable? I would like to share that we remain vulnerable to dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases for a few reasons. Firstly, the dengue cases have been increasing globally. WHO reported 2.2 million cases in 2010, and this number has increased to 3.2 million last year. Secondly, we are in a dengue-endemic region and there are four different dengue virus serotypes circulating concurrently. Historically, we notice a change in the predominant virus is usually followed by a spike in dengue cases. Thirdly, a large proportion of our population lacks immunity to dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases as a result of intensive mosquito control in the past decades. In many other countries where dengue is endemic, the affected are often children. This is not the case in Singapore, which is good. Our success has, therefore, and however, paradoxically lowered our herd immunity so that disease transmission occurs easily even with a very small mosquito population. Fourthly, our region's constantly warm climate and high humidity allow the mosquitoes to breed all year round. The warmer climate also supports faster breeding and the maturation cycle of the mosquitoes, which contribute to a higher population and the spread of diseases. Finally, our high population density is very helpful to the breeding of Aedes aegypti. This specific mosquito, as I have mentioned, has adapted particularly well to our urban environment because it loves human beings, compared to animals, and likes to breed, mate and feed near human dwellings.”
“Firstly, fogging is only effective if the chemical has direct contact with the mosquitoes. This means that fogging will have to be repeated frequently as new batches of mosquitoes continue to emerge from breeding habitats that are not removed. Routine fogging is not a sustainable vector control measure. Secondly, the right chemical and sufficient number of fogging guns needs to be deployed to achieve an effective kill. Thirdly, the overuse or indiscriminate use of chemical treatment may cause the build-up of resistance in the local mosquito population. Fogging should only be used when there are Zika or dengue clusters or when the adult mosquito population is observed to be high so that we can mitigate the situation quickly and, again, I qualify, it is only effective when worked together with source eradication. I just read an article in The Economist where experts fighting the same Aedes aegypti mosquito in Florida have come to the same conclusion that fogging on its own is not effective and that the only real solution is, in fact, "boots on the ground". And this is the best way to destroy the breeding habitats. Given that this particular mosquito, the Aedes aegypti, likes to be around humans, lives in crowded places, and lay eggs in clean water, the only way to mitigate the risk of dengue or Zika is to prevent the mosquito from emerging in the first place. Indeed, human blood is needed by the female Aedes mosquitoes to lay eggs and breed. They will go everywhere where there is human blood to feed on and water to breed their offspring. That is why our NEA officers' boots have been on the ground for years to eradicate breeding spots in accessible and public areas.”
“Madam, the Minister for Health has given an account of the Zika outbreak, and the clinical management of patients diagnosed with Zika in Singapore. I will now highlight the mosquito control measures my Ministry and NEA have undertaken to control the mosquito population prior to and during the outbreak. As everyone knows by now, Zika and dengue are conveyed by the same mosquito – the Aedes aegypti. Our key strategy for dengue control, and now Zika, is source reduction – the detection and removal of breeding habitats and larvae. This integrated vector management strategy is in line with WHO's recommendations and remains especially critical now, as we are in the traditional dengue peak season. Using a risk-based approach in NEA's vector control, our officers conduct pre-emptive checks and vector control efforts as precautionary measures in areas identified with high Aedes mosquito population. When a dengue or Zika cluster is identified, we intensify our source eradication efforts by partnering the community and premise owners to eliminate mosquito breeding habitats. Fogging is also conducted to kill the mosquitos as an additional measure to quickly curtail the transmission of dengue or Zika. Following the Zika outbreak, we have heard calls for fogging to be conducted at various residential estates. Currently, NEA carries out indoor spraying of insecticides and outdoor fogging or misting to kill adult mosquitoes in the Zika clusters. This is the same thing we do in the dengue clusters. These measures are helpful in the clusters because they have infected adult mosquitoes which must be destroyed before they bite and infect more people. However, it would not be wise to conduct fogging indiscriminately outside of the clusters as a preventive measure.”
“If activated, Singapore will offer up to two C-130 aircraft to ferry fire-fighting assistance team from the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), a team from SCDF to share firefighting assessment and planning assistance with our Indonesian counterparts, one C-130 aircraft to help cloud seeding and higher resolution satellite pictures of fires and the coordinates of the fire sites.”
“Indeed, we are concerned that standards should exist so that companies, big or small, have guidance what to buy, where to buy from and therefore, the World Wildlife Fund Singapore's Singapore Alliance for Sustainable Palm Oil standard is one of the standards that we are hoping will be one that will resonate with the industry. There are others, like the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), and they have different standards and means of implementation, but we welcome them all. The Singapore Green Label for paper is only one of the product categories that the Singapore Environment Council (SEC) is producing. It is a primary means to ensure that it is more comprehensive and will give those egregious companies a chance for them to make good to practise sustainable production. FSC is also a label that SEC recognises but it is not as comprehensive as the Singapore Green Label. And while the Singapore Green Label will take some time to mature, FSC is a good enough standard for us to rely on.”
“The Singapore Government has announced that it will only procure printing paper products that carry the Singapore Green Label, which indicates that the supplier practises sustainable forestry management and does not clear land using fire. Consumers in Singapore should send similar signals to influence companies to adopt environmentally sustainable practices that do not contribute to smoke haze. I am heartened that some non-government organisations (NGOs) have stepped up their support in this regard. For example, the World Wildlife Fund Singapore (WWF-SG) has recently established the Singapore Alliance for Sustainable Palm Oil to encourage businesses here to use certified palm oil which does not contribute to the haze in its production. I encourage all stakeholders to persevere in our efforts to combat the haze.”
“Mdm Speaker, on 26 August 2016, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Environment Agency (NEA) registered Singapore's concerns with his Indonesian counterpart over the deteriorating air quality and urged Indonesia to take necessary actions to prevent and mitigate the fires during the dry season. NEA also asked for an update on the situation in Sumatra and Kalimantan. NEA has been issuing daily haze advisories to the public. The advisories contain useful information, such as the air quality forecast for the following day with a corresponding health advisory and information pertaining to the hotspots situation. This will allow the public to plan ahead for their activities. NEA, together with other agencies under the Haze Task Force, will closely monitor the situation and roll out further measures as necessary. Singapore is committed to assisting Indonesia in its efforts to deal with land and forest fires. In June this year, we offered our haze assistance package to Indonesia to support its fire mitigation efforts. We have also been working with the Indonesian Government at regional fora, such as ASEAN, to explore initiatives that can help address the haze issue. Over the past year, Singapore has been active in facilitating the exchange of best practices on peatland fire management as well as the development of the Roadmap to a Haze-free ASEAN 2020, which was just adopted last month. We were also active in ensuring the full and effective implementation of the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution, as well as pushing for the expeditious operationalisation of the ASEAN Haze Monitoring System. Ultimately, we recognise that transboundary haze is a manmade and commercially driven issue.”
“Mdm Speaker, may I have your permission to take Question Nos 7 to 11 in a Ministerial Statement following the Minister for Health?”
“Under the current Street Hawking Scheme, licensed street hawkers are allowed to sell goods, which they have to state upfront at the point of application, at fixed locations in public spaces without the need to pay rent. They only pay an annual licence fee of $120 or $10 per month and this has remained unchanged since the start of the scheme 15 years ago. There are no plans to revise this. Street hawking is not a permanent solution for someone trying to make a living. Those experiencing financial hardship can be assisted through the various help schemes available. There are also various Government-funded training programmes for those who wish to pick up new skills and seek more stable forms of employment.”
“In Singapore, the Government has not made any decision on carbon pricing, including emissions trading schemes.”
“Climate change is a global problem with wide-ranging implications. Many countries around the world today are already feeling the effects, whether it is record high temperatures, more intense rainfalls or the threat that rising sea levels bring to coastal cities. Although Singapore only contributes less than 0.2% of the world's total greenhouse gas emissions, we are a responsible global citizen and will play our part. Given this, Singapore had pledged at the 2015 Paris Climate Conference to reduce our emissions intensity by 36% below 2005 levels by 2030 and to stabilise our emissions with the aim of peaking around 2030. These are ambitious targets which the Government alone cannot achieve. We would require the collective effort and action of every individual, community and business to make greener lifestyle choices and reduce their energy consumption. Members would be aware that the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Climate Change (IMCCC), chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, recently released a Climate Action Plan that explains the whole-of-Government strategy we have adopted to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and to protect Singapore from the impacts of climate change. Improving our energy efficiency continues to be a key strategy. Specifically, the Member has asked whether a national emissions trading scheme will be implemented as part of this strategy. In recent years, many countries around the world have implemented various carbon pricing instruments, including emissions trading schemes, to help in their climate change efforts. For example, the Republic of Korea launched its emissions trading scheme in 2015. China, which has seven regional pilots, has also announced its intention to introduce a national cap-and-trade system in 2017.”
“We will work with our partners to expand these programmes and explore new ones, to increase awareness of e-waste recycling and provide convenient recycling services for the public.”
“While my Ministry currently does not collect data on the rate of e-waste recycling by households, Government or commercial entities, it is estimated from the available data that about 60,000 tonnes of e-waste is generated annually in Singapore. About half is estimated to be common household information technology (IT) products and home appliances, while the rest comprises information and communications technology (ICT) equipment generated by the commercial and industrial sectors. My Ministry is exploring options for a comprehensive system for the collection, recycling and management of e-waste to be implemented nationwide. The National Environment Agency commissioned a study in March 2016 to develop possible options. The study includes a survey of the entire e-waste collection and recycling value chain, including treatment and disposal. The survey results will help in the development of feasible designs for an efficient and effective e-waste management framework, along with inputs from stakeholder consultations which will take place in the coming months. To facilitate e-waste recycling in Singapore and in preparation for the possible implementation of an e-waste management framework, we have formed a national voluntary partnership for e-waste recycling with interested stakeholders. The partnership comprises producers and retailers of electronic and electrical products, as well as e-waste recycling service providers. We also support voluntary recycling programmes, such as REcycling Nation's Electronic Waste (RENEW), which is led by StarHub, DHL and recycler TES-AMM. RENEW now covers 185 locations around Singapore with 235 e-waste recycling bins in place.”
“The wet market and hawker centre at Block 511, Bedok North Street 3, has already been upgraded under the Hawker Centres Upgrading Programme (HUP) in July 2004. The HUP is a programme that the Government ran from 2001 and it finally ceased in 2014 after all eligible centres that opted for the programme had been upgraded. On its part, the Town Council is responsible for the management and maintenance of the common property of this centre, including carrying out the necessary cyclical repairs and redecorations (R&R) works, such as repainting of the centre and replacing any fixtures or fittings. Thus far, the respective Town Councils have carried out the cyclical R&R works for the centres under their purview in a timely and responsible manner.”
“High-rise littering is an anti-social and serious offence that dirties the environment and poses safety hazards to the public. Forensics, such as deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) analysis, may provide evidence that a person has had contact with a particular piece of litter thrown but this does not directly prove the act of littering. Further investigation would still be necessary to establish the identity of the high-rise littering culprit and prove that the person had, indeed, thrown the litter. It may also be challenging to extract DNA samples from litter that has been exposed to weather elements. Nonetheless, my Ministry is exploring the possibility of using DNA forensics in our enforcement against high-rise littering and will study if there are situations where such technology may be of use. My Ministry has deployed surveillance cameras in areas with persistent high-rise littering to catch high-rise litterbugs in the act since 2012. When a particular unit from which items have been thrown has been identified, the owner of the unit will be compelled by law to furnish information on the identities of the occupants for our further investigation and necessary enforcement action. More than 2,400 enforcements have been taken against high-rise littering offenders since we started camera deployments in 2012. The Government takes a serious view of high-rise littering. We will, as far as practicable, continue to adopt the necessary measures and technology to tackle high-rise littering to secure the conviction of high-rise litterbugs.”
“The Government's long-term goal is to prohibit smoking in all public areas to protect non-smokers from the harmful health effects of second-hand smoke. Since the implementation of the Smoking (Prohibition in Certain Places) Act in 1970, the smoking prohibition has been progressively extended to more than 32,000 premises and locations including general areas, such as playgrounds, corridors, covered walkways, lift lobbies, stairwells and entrances to buildings. From 1 June 2016, the smoking prohibition was extended, after taking into consideration views from the public, to cover areas, such as neighbourhood parks, within both public and private residential estates which are places likely to be frequented by families and children. It would not be appropriate for my Ministry to prescribe selective smoking-prohibited areas in specific constituencies outside of the list of areas covered under the Smoking (Prohibition in Certain Places) Act as this may result in confusion or inconsistency over the Government's policy towards smoking prohibition in public places. Nonetheless, my Ministry will continue to take the public's feedback into consideration as we look into further extending the smoking prohibition under the Smoking (Prohibition in Certain Places) Act.”
“My Ministry's long-term goal is to prohibit smoking in all public areas to protect non-smokers from the harmful health effects of second-hand smoke. Since 2013, smoking has been prohibited in common areas within any residential developments, including common corridors, staircases and staircase landings, of HDB and private residential developments. Those who smoke in the common corridors of residential buildings are liable to a maximum Court fine of $1,000. In 2013, my Ministry received about 470 cases of feedback regarding smoking in residential premises. This decreased to about 420 cases in 2014 and 320 cases in 2015. In addition, there were about 2,500 cases of feedback on smoking in common corridors in 2013. This decreased to about 2,100 cases in 2014 and 2,000 cases in 2015. Smoking within one's own residence, which is considered private, is not prohibited and beyond the Government's jurisdiction. Nonetheless, we recognise that second-hand smoke from residential premises can waft into neighbours' residences. Smokers are thus encouraged to be socially responsible and considerate when smoking so as not to cause disamenities to their surroundings and neighbours. Where necessary, residents who are affected by smoke from their neighbours' residences or common corridors can discuss and resolve the issue with their neighbours amicably or seek assistance from the Community Mediation Centre to facilitate constructive resolution of issues.”
“In addition, the challenges posed by climate change and increasing urbanisation have necessitated additional costly infrastructure to enhance our water supply resilience. In the last five years, PUB has completed or launched an unprecedented number of major projects, including two reservoirs, two NEWater factories, four desalination plants and Phase Two of the Deep Tunnel Sewerage System with a centralised Water Reclamation Plant. Hence, while PUB will continue to explore new technology to lower costs of production, especially for desalination and recycling, these technology-induced cost efficiencies may not be able to "outweigh" the increase in other cost drivers like capital, maintenance and manpower expenses. We will need to continually review the price of water to ensure that our water system remains financially sustainable and reflects the scarcity value of water accurately. With the support of all stakeholders doing our part to use water wisely, we can look forward to SG100, confident that our taps will always flow.”
“Currently, a higher WCT is already levied on households that consume more water. While households that consume less than 40 cubic metres of water pay a water tariff of $1.17 per cubic metre, and a WCT at 30% of the water tariff, households that consume more than 40 cubic metres of water per month pay a higher tariff and a higher WCT, at 45% of tariff. This differentiated WCT rate, as well as the differentiated water tariff, serves to discourage excessive water consumption. Mr Yong’s suggestion is to further tier the WCT based on the average household consumption for each housing type. This would mean having to apply different thresholds for different housing types and changing the thresholds whenever the national average consumption for a housing type changes. Such a complex structure could be confusing to consumers and is more challenging to implement, compared to the current WCT structure. But both Members' questions have highlighted pertinent issues regarding the pricing of water, such as the sustainability of our water supply in future, as well as the need to manage demand. It has to be noted that the price of water has remained unchanged for 16 years, since 2000. PUB has been able to keep the price relatively stable all these years because of improvements in membrane technology and productivity. Most of the incremental improvements have already been reaped and what remains are longer-term breakthrough technologies which may take many more years to be proven operationally and become deployable. At the same time, wages, asset renewal and energy prices have risen over time and will continue to exert upward pressure on water costs.”
“From this month onwards, all domestic customers will be able to see how their utility consumption compares against the national average, as well as the average consumption of households of similar housing types. We hope that this additional comparison feature, together with our other water conservation initiatives, will help consumers to be more mindful of how they use water in their daily lives. As it may take some time for water consumption behaviour to change, PUB will continue to monitor and assess the effect of the bill comparison feature. Finally, on water pricing. Water has to be priced appropriately to manage water demand and to ensure sustainability in water supply. In Singapore, we price water based on the long run marginal cost (LRMC) of the next available drop of water. Mr Seah Kian Peng has asked if this price reflects its full cost. Currently, the total price of water reflects LRMC, and comprises the water tariff, used water charges, as well as a Water Conservation Tax (WCT). The total water price recovers the costs of production and conveyance of potable water to meet demand, the treatment of used water and the maintenance of the used water network. The development cost of infrastructure to collect used water, that is, sewers, is funded by Government grants as sewers are regarded as a public good. The WCT is imposed as a percentage of the total water consumption to reinforce the message that water is precious from the very first drop. We believe that the total water price must reflect costs as closely as possible and have pegged it to the cost of producing the next drop of potable water, which is likely to be more from desalination and NEWater. Mr Yong has suggested tiering the WCT.”
“Further, PUB, together with SPRING Singapore and industry stakeholders, has developed guidelines, tools and best practices to help users improve water usage efficiency. Other enabling measures include a Water Efficiency Manager Course for Facilities and Operations managers, as well as system consultants and certification bodies in water management. Companies can also tap on a Water Efficiency Fund (WEF) for water efficiency studies and projects. Last year, there were 203 successful WEF applications with a total approved funding of $3.9 million. Projects supported include water recycling projects and installation of private water meters to help companies better detect leaks and monitor water usage. One specific example where PUB is working closely with large water users to implement recycling is with the Singapore Refining Company (SRC). PUB is working with SRC to implement an Effluent Treatment Recycling Plant to produce NEWater-grade water for non-potable uses. When completed by 2016, it will help the company reduce its NEWater use by 2,500 cubic metres, an Olympic-sized pool, per day. On a wider scale, PUB plans to work with companies on Jurong Island to meet their cooling demand with seawater, instead of freshwater supply. For the domestic sector, PUB has mandated water efficiency labelling and minimum standards to help consumers select more water-efficient fittings and appliances. PUB also carries out extensive outreach and educational programmes to encourage households to use water judiciously, as well as studies on households' water usage patterns, to identify opportunities to improve water efficiency. For instance, PUB participated in an initiative led by Singapore Power (SP) Services to redesign the utility bill to help consumers understand their utility usage.”
“This superhighway, designed to last the next 100 years, will allow us to collect used water more efficiently. Our water reclamation plants and NEWater factories will be expanded progressively to treat and recycle every drop of used water collected. PUB aims to increase Singapore's used water recycling rate from the current 30% to up to 55% in the long term, by capturing used water more effectively and improving treatment technology. Hence, I would like to assure Members that the Ministry and PUB are actively planning for and implementing infrastructure to meet long-term water needs and enhance our resilience. But simply enhancing supply is not sustainable. Mr Melvin Yong has rightly pointed out the importance of water conservation, in both the non-domestic and domestic sectors. A large share of our water demand growth will come from the non-domestic sector. Hence, PUB has put in place extensive measures to encourage companies to use water efficiently, including recycling. Since 2015, PUB has required the submission of Water Efficiency Management Plans (WEMP) for large water users that consume 60,000 cubic metres or more a year, equivalent to 24 Olympic-sized swimming pools. These plans help companies become more aware of their water usage patterns and identify ways to reduce consumption. More than 600 large water users have submitted their plans. PUB will study the data collected, with the aim of developing water efficiency benchmarks and good practice guidelines, including that for water recycling, for different sectors. PUB also implements the Water Efficient Buildings certification programme which recognises building owners who put in effort to raise water efficiency.”
“Both Mr Seah Kian Peng and Mr Melvin Yong have raised questions related to the supply, demand and pricing of water. Indeed, water remains an existential issue for Singapore. First, let me address Mr Seah’s concern over our future water supply. Long-term planning to meet water demand has always been at the top of my Ministry's agenda. At the recent Committee of Supply debate, I had shared that the Public Utilities Board (PUB), our national water agency, had completed its Water Master Plan 2016 review. This plan outlines Singapore's long-term water supply strategy for the next 50 years. The plan not only seeks to ensure water adequacy to meet future demand, but also caters for resilience against contingencies, such as prolonged dry weather and other disruptions to water supply sources. Our total water demand is projected to double by 2060. While we seek to augment supply from local catchments, there is a limit to this, as two-thirds of Singapore is already water catchment. To ensure long-term water security, we plan to double our NEWater and desalination capacities by 2030. By 2060, these two sources will supply up to 85% of our water needs and also help to reduce our vulnerability to weather uncertainties. We are now developing our third and fourth desalination plants, which will be ready in 2017 and 2019 respectively. At the Singapore International Water Week last month, I announced that we would build a fifth desalination plant on Jurong Island, with the capacity to produce 30 million gallons of water per day. The fifth NEWater plant will commence operations at the end of 2016. We are also enhancing our used water system ahead of demand. PUB will be implementing Phase 2 of the Deep Tunnel Sewerage System, or DTSS in short, over the next 10 years.”
“Currently, when the lease for a wet market and hawker centre expires, stall-owners who wish to continue their businesses will have the option to do so. Those previously on the subsidised scheme will pay the current subsidised rent while those who were not previously subsidised can either pay the prevailing market rent or tender for vacant stalls. NEA has been studying alternative management models for hawker centres and will consider where it can be applied so long as the fundamental objective of hawker centres in providing affordable, hygienic food is maintained. Just like other sold centres whose leases had expired earlier, the wet market and hawker centre at Block 511, Bedok North Street 3, will continue to operate after the stall leases expire on 31 October 2017. The Town Council remains responsible for the maintenance of this centre and must arrange for any necessary repairs and redecorations to be done.”
“These include guidelines for the proper handling and redistribution of unsold and excess food to food distribution organisations, such as Food Bank Singapore and Food from the Heart. My Ministry is also conducting projects to evaluate cost-effective methods for collecting and recycling food waste. On-site food waste recycling machines have been installed at two hawker centres to convert food waste to either water or bio-fertiliser. In a separate project, source-segregated food waste will be collected from multiple premises in Clementi. The collected food waste will be mixed with used water sludge to produce biogas at a pilot facility at the Ulu Pandan Water Reclamation Plant. With regard to the suggestion to collect food waste data from supermarkets, my Ministry is currently considering enhancing the mandatory waste reporting requirements and extending waste reporting to other premises that generate large amounts of waste, including food waste.”
“While my Ministry currently does not collect data on the amount of unsold food disposed of by supermarkets specifically, it tracks the total amount of food waste disposed of in Singapore. This is obtained from waste sampling and disposal data at incineration plants. My Ministry also keeps track of the total amount of food waste recycled which is compiled from the records of food waste recyclers. Under the mandatory waste reporting requirements, my Ministry collects data on the amount of food waste recycled by large hotels and shopping malls. The mandatory reporting of waste data and waste reduction plans helps build greater awareness among building managers on the potential for waste reduction on their premises. Over the past 10 years, the amount of food waste generated in Singapore has increased by almost 50% and is expected to rise further with population growth and greater affluence. Besides the effort and energy needed to collect and dispose of it, food waste also contaminates recyclables and gives rise to odour and pest issues if not managed properly. Hence, there is a need to manage food waste in a holistic way in terms of Page: 113 minimisation, redistribution and recycling. As part of ongoing outreach efforts, my Ministry launched a programme last November to encourage everyone to reduce food wastage. It has also worked with various food retail businesses, including the supermarkets, to encourage consumers not to waste food. In addition, my Ministry is working on good practice guides for food manufacturers, retail establishments and supermarkets to minimise waste across the food supply chain.”
“With the passing of the National Environment Agency (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2016 earlier this year, the CVs will be provided with powers to request particulars from persons found to have committed environmental offences beyond littering, such as smoking in prohibited places, spitting, urinating or defecating in public places, failing to properly remove animal faecal matter from public places, as well as leaving the engine of a stationary vehicle to idle. Through the CV programme, we hope that more people will learn to take ownership of the environment. After all, care for the environment is a shared responsibility and everyone needs to play a part in ensuring a clean and liveable Singapore.”
“NEA started the Community Volunteer (CV) programme in 2013 to empower members of environment-related NGOs to take on larger roles in strengthening public ownership of the environment. Since May 2016, individuals who are not members of any NGO but who meet the stringent selection criteria and fulfil the requisite training can also be appointed as a CV. There are currently about 380 CVs and about another 100 individuals have expressed interest to join the CV programme. The role of the CV is to engage and educate environmental offenders to keep our environment clean, as well as to inculcate greater community ownership of the environment. CVs are required to adopt specific geographical areas and lead by example to promote good social norms through participating in monthly environmental activities, such as litter picking and educating environmental offenders, within these adopted areas. The newly appointed CVs are also required to be accompanied by NEA officers as part of their training to learn how to engage offenders. As the primary role of the CVs is to encourage members of the public to take responsibility for the environment, the CVs will not be issuing enforcement tickets directly. The CVs will only use their authority card to request the particulars of a non-compliant offender for NEA's investigations. NEA will then follow through with enforcement where necessary.”
“It will also help the cleaners increase their work efficiency and will, over time, ease the manpower constraints faced by the cleaning sector. My Ministry will continue with our efforts to educate and raise awareness of tray-return to build this culture. Ultimately, cleaning up after ourselves is not just about raising productivity or ensuring better hygiene and cleanliness but simply a reflection of our social graciousness and consideration for others. I hope that all of us can continue to play our part in returning our trays not just in hawker centres but in other food outlets as well.”
“Tray-return was introduced by NEA to hawker centres in 2012 and tray return facilities have been progressively implemented in all hawker centres since July 2015 at an average cost of about $11,000 per hawker centre. The tray-return rates at our hawker centres vary from centre to centre, with the highest tray-return rates at Tiong Bahru Market and Block 137 Tampines Street 11. However, we can and should do better in achieving higher tray-return rates. The NEA is working with the Public Hygiene Council and the Singapore Kindness Movement to raise awareness of the tray return initiative, for example, by garnering support from schools, community organisations and corporations, including food court and fast food operators under the Tray Return Partnership. We are also looking at incorporating tray return stations that are more visible, prominent and accessible. Through these efforts, we hope to co-develop solutions to make it easier for everyone to return their trays and make the dining experience at hawker centres a more pleasant one for all. At Ang Mo Kio Block 628 Market and Tiong Bahru Market where on-site food waste recycling projects are ongoing, food waste is segregated by cleaners when crockery is returned at the tray-return stations and when they collect the crockery during table-cleaning. The segregated food waste is then brought to the bin centre for recycling. NEA and the appointed food waste recycling companies have conducted training sessions with the cleaners at both centres on how to segregate food waste at the tray-return stations and during table-cleaning. Tray-return will improve the overall level of cleanliness and hygiene in hawker centres by minimising the amount of food scraps left on the tables.”
“Under Regulation 21 of the Environmental Protection and Management (Vehicular Emissions) Regulations, it is an offence to leave the engine of a vehicle running when it is stationary for reasons other than traffic conditions. Leaving the engine running when the vehicle is stationary results in fuel wastage and unnecessary environmental pollution. Hybrid vehicles are equipped with an internal combustion engine and an electric motor powered by a battery pack. If the battery pack is unable to meet the electrical energy needed to operate the in-vehicle auxiliary systems, such as the air-conditioning or the radio when the vehicle is stationary, the internal combustion engine will automatically re-start to provide the energy needed, thereby generating tailpipe emissions. Hence, hybrid vehicles can still emit tailpipe emissions when stationary and, thus, the regulations Page: 111 on idling engines also apply to hybrid vehicles. To promote greater awareness of the regulation, NEA has installed anti-vehicle idling signages at places where vehicles frequently congregate, such as carparks, loading/unloading bays and along the roadside near schools. In addition, NEA also works closely with stakeholders, such as the authorised vehicle inspection centres, private and public transport operators and schools, to disseminate educational pamphlets and decals.”
“Chua Chu Kang is one of the towns identified for a new hawker centre by 2027. My Ministry is working on the details of the location and timeline of the new hawker centre and more information will be provided when the plans are ready.”
“Under the National Recycling Programme (NRP), public waste collectors are required to provide a blue co-mingled recycling bin at every HDB block and landed premises. This co-mingled system makes it convenient for residents to recycle as they do not need to spend additional time and effort to segregate the different types of recyclables (that is, paper, metal, plastic and glass) nor set aside additional space in their homes to store the different types of recyclables. NEA requires the public waste collectors to use dedicated trucks to collect recyclables. These trucks are labelled accordingly as vehicles for the collection of recyclables. NEA monitors these trucks to ensure recyclables are collected and sent to the Materials Recovery Facility. NEA will impose a financial penalty on any public waste collector found to have collected waste and recyclables using the same truck. At the Material Recovery Facilities, the recyclables are sorted, baled and sent to local recyclers or exported for recycling. Besides the NRP implemented for households, we also encourage private premises, such as shopping malls and hotels, to participate in the recycling effort by providing recycling bins on their premises. For these premises, the infrastructure and collection methods are decided and provided by the premises owner and these can vary across premises. Some premises may provide segregated recycling bins, as patrons tend to dispose of singular items, such as aluminium cans or plastic bottles.”
“Prior to the commencement of the Hawker Centres Upgrading Programme (HUP) in 2001, hawker centres were not fitted with centralised exhaust systems. Centralised exhaust systems were introduced during the HUP. These systems are typically fitted with baffle filters to reduce the grease in cooking fumes. For new centres, besides a centralised exhaust system with baffle filters, the National Environment Agency (NEA) also considers the installation of additional air cleaning systems such as carbon filters, ultraviolet lamps or electrostatic precipitators in their exhaust systems to prevent grease or odour issues. Currently, four hawker centres have additional air cleaning systems such as carbon filters installed in their exhaust systems. If there are issues related to the exhaust system of specific hawker centres, NEA will look into the feedback and work with the relevant stakeholders, including Town Councils for Housing and Development Board (HDB) centres, to explore appropriate solutions for the centres such as replacing the motors in the exhaust system or installing carbon filters in the exhaust system, if necessary.”
“For example, PUB is working with the Housing and Development Board (HDB) and the Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) on the Smart Enabled Homes Trial in Yuhua estate for 2016-2017, and this will provide households with hourly water consumption data and water saving tips, and alert them on anomalies in water usage. Given these outreach programmes, both at schools and in the community, it may not be necessary to conduct water rationing exercises with households at the moment. The responsibility of water conservation does not fall on households alone. Businesses must also play a part. We have mandated the submission of Water Efficiency Management Plan (WEMP) for large water users in the non-domestic sector. Through these plans, businesses can better understand their water usage and establish water management systems to enhance their water efficiency. PUB will study the data collected from these plans and explore the potential for water efficiency benchmarks and good practice guidelines for the different sectors. All of us have to do our part to conserve water. This way, our water resources can last longer. Every effort counts and, collectively, the amount of water saved can be significant.”