Housing for the people
“We have completed close to 10,500 flats across 15 projects in the first eight months,” said Minister of National Development Desmond Lee. And that includes BTOs which were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
To date, 94% of the backlog is complete. As for the remaining 6%, Mr Lee assured us they will be delivered within the next six months.
In any other country, a promise to launch up to 100,000 flats over five years would have been met with scepticism. In Singapore, however, we keep our promises. Under the PAP government, and through the tireless work of MND, HDB, and its contractors, we have aggressively increased the supply of flats to meet the needs of Singaporeans.
By the end of this year, HDB is on track to complete 18,000 BTOs. That works out to an average of 1,500 new flats every month, for families to move in and build their dream homes.
When outlier resale flats are grabbing all the attention, the more important work of building more BTO flats for Singaporeans continues without publicity.
Because providing affordable housing has long been a promise of the PAP Government, and it will continue to do so for the next generation of Singaporeans.
Done and dusted, the great oil spill clean-up
Less than three months after an oil spill struck our shores, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu shared some good news. “800 cleaning personnel, 2,300 volunteers and 3,750 tonnes of debris later, we have completed the task for cleaning, ahead of schedule,” announced Ms Fu.
If one recalls, the future of our shoreline looked less rosy in the immediate aftermath. Apocalyptic images of darkened waters hinted at an environmental disaster.
Thankfully, efficiency and determination have always been the PAP government’s strengths. Working as a team, agency staff, cleaning personnel and community volunteers cleared up the mess, one tarball at a time. The result is a testament that Singapore under the PAP will always bounce back stronger.
No monkey business this time around
With the havoc of COVID-19 still fresh in our minds, it is no wonder people are getting jittery about mpox. How infectious is it? Are the days of face masks and social distancing on their way back to haunt us?
To reassure the public, Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung held a press conference and outlined our lines of defence against this potential threat. These include border screenings, contact tracing, quarantine, and protocols to manage outbreaks at migrant worker dormitories.
“We should not be complacent…We must continue to monitor the situation, and be prepared to respond, adapt, and even decisively implement certain measures, should it be necessary,” said Mr Ong.
As an international hub, the arrival of the deadlier mpox Clade I strain at some point is perhaps inevitable. But knowing what we do now, the PAP is stepping up on our preparedness to isolate, treat and contain the disease if it does hit our shores. In short, as Mr Ong concluded, mpox is a troublesome virus but something we can manage.
Paralympians fly the Singapore flag high
Team Singapore is making quite a splash at the Paris Paralympics. There were two gold medals from backstroke legend Yip Pin Xiu and a silver medal in boccia from debutante Jeralyn Tan. Meanwhile, equestrian veteran Laurentia Tan has secured a place in the finals in what is to be her fifth Paralympic games.
“It is our hope that feats like these will continue to inspire young budding athletes, regardless of abilities, to take up sport and be engaged and enriched by it,” said Senior Parliamentary Secretary Eric Chua, who is in Paris to cheer for our athletes.
Indeed, having recognised the importance of sports, the PAP has spared no effort to promote sporting opportunities for persons with disabilities (PwDs). By 2026, all ActiveSG gyms and pools will have inclusive features to enable more PwDs to participate in sports. In addition, the Kallang Alive Masterplan announced at this year’s National Day Rally, will include special training facilities to support our para-athletes.
“The new plans we’ve announced for Kallang will also apply equally to disability sports… They will have a space there that they can call their own, right next to every other athlete,” said Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong.
Slowly but surely, Singapore is on its way to becoming a sporting nation.
A slice of Winnie the Pooh in Bidadari
When it comes to creative land use, Singapore is at the top of its game. Bidadari may have once been a cemetery, but it is now home to a Hundred Acre Wood-inspired Park. With its lush and hilly landscape within woodlands and grasslands, Winnie the Pooh would not feel out of place here.
The scenic Alkaff Lake instantly captures our attention. Aesthetically pleasing, and a sure draw for the Instagram crowd, the lake is also an engineering marvel—a first-of-its-kind retention pond that reduces flood risks during heavy rain.
“Alkaff Lake highlights PUB’s innovative approach to urban water management. The 1.8-hectare retention pond can hold up to 40,000 cubic meters of water, effectively managing stormwater runoff from half of Bidadari estate during heavy storms,” said Senior Minister of State Dr Amy Khor.
With climate change resulting in more unpredictable and intense rainfall, the PAP government is always on the lookout for innovative solutions to keep Singaporeans safe. And Alkaff Lake, with its dual function, is just one of many examples of how human ingenuity can overcome the forces of nature.
Photo Source: Desmond Lee/ Grace Fu/ Ong Ye Kung/ Edwin Tong/ Eric Chua / Dr Amy Khor/ Sitoh Yih Pin via Facebook
