Debated in Parliament on 5 Feb 2024.
Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (a) what is the percentage of households that fully redeemed their Community Development Council (CDC) Vouchers for 2023; and (b) whether the Ministry will study how to effectively redistribute unredeemed CDC Vouchers to benefit the vulnerable.
The Community Development Council (CDC) Vouchers Scheme 2023 is part of the Government’s continuing efforts to help Singaporean households cope with their daily expenses and to support heartland merchants and hawkers. It forms a part of the wider Assurance Package that seeks to cushion the impact of additional Goods and Services Tax (GST) and the $1.5 billion Support Package announced in October 2022 to provide additional relief for cost of living for all eligible Singaporean households.
The CDC Vouchers Scheme 2023, which ended on 31 December 2023, saw 97.7% of 1.27 million Singaporean households, claim their CDC Vouchers. This includes newly-formed households claiming their CDC Vouchers for the first time. This marked the highest number and percentage of vouchers claimed compared to previous tranches. Of the vouchers claimed, more than $360 million, or 96.5%, was spent at participating hawkers, heartland merchants and supermarkets.
To build caring and inclusive communities, it was announced in December 2022 that Singaporean households had the option to donate their unused 2021 and 2022 CDC vouchers to a list of participating charities. These charities support diverse causes such as animal welfare, arts and heritage, children and youth, environment, migrant community, persons with disability and more.
At the end of the donation exercise on 31 January 2023, almost 10,000 Singaporean households had donated close to $1.2 million worth of CDC Vouchers 2021 and 2022 to 245 participating charities. This is testament to the generosity of Singaporeans, uplifting one another in challenging times.
It was announced in November last year that Singaporean households can continue to help the vulnerable by donating their unused CDC Vouchers 2023 to participating charity organisations from 1 December 2023 to 31 January 2024. Their contributions will make a tangible and positive difference for the various causes and beneficiaries.
PAPERCUTS