Government exploring more measures in Budget 2023 to support Singaporeans: Lawrence Wong

THE government is looking at additional measures in this year’s Budget to help Singaporeans cope with rising prices and inflation, said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong on Tuesday (Jan 3) at the launch of the Community Development Council (CDC) voucher scheme.

“As we look ahead to the new year, we have to be prepared for continued uncertainties and challenges,” said Wong, who will deliver the Budget statement in parliament on Feb 14. 

This includes the ongoing war in Ukraine, possible disruptions in food and energy supplies, a weaker global economy as well as geopolitical tensions, especially between the US and China, he said. 

As part of the effort to support households with their daily essentials and to support local businesses, every Singaporean household will receive S$300 in CDC vouchers to spend at participating hawkers, heartland merchants and supermarkets from Jan 3 to Dec 31, 2023. 

“The vouchers are part of a comprehensive package of measures from the government to help Singaporeans cushion the effects of higher prices and the recent GST (goods and services tax) rate increase,” Wong said. 

In addition, the government provided adult Singaporeans with up to S$700 in cash last month. Singaporean households will also receive the next round of U-S ave rebates in January to help offset their utility bills. 

A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU

Friday, 8.30 am

Asean Business

Business insights centering on South-east Asia's fast-growing economies.

Sign Up

Half of the CDC vouchers can be spent at participating hawkers and heartland merchants, which are identified by a teal CDC voucher decal.

The other half can be spent at five participating supermarkets, which are identified by a yellow CDC voucher decal. They are Hao Mart, NTUC FairPrice, Prime Supermarket, Sheng Siong and U Stars Supermarket, which have a total of 300 outlets islandwide.

Residents can redeem the vouchers as well as find the list of participating retailers near them at go.gov.sg/cdcvouchers. 

The vouchers can be used in fixed denominations of S$2, S$5, and S$10 for heartland merchants and hawkers, and S$5 and S$10 for supermarkets. 

As of Dec 31 last year, Wong said that 97 per cent of Singaporean households have claimed CDC vouchers from 2021 and 2022

South West District Mayor Low Yen Ling, who was also present at the launch, said that more than S$115 million was spent with the 2021 CDC vouchers, and some S$113 million was spent in 2022.

Of the first two tranches of CDC vouchers, 46 per cent was spent on food and beverage, 43 per cent on trades and services, and the remaining 11 per cent on minimarts and provision shops.

In his speech, Wong said that about 1,400 households have donated their vouchers to charity. “Even though the vouchers have now expired, the CDC vouchers website will continue to accept donations of vouchers until the end of this month,” he said.

More information about the CDC Vouchers scheme can be found at vouchers.cdc.gov.sg.