For helping the needy families to cope up with the increase in transport fares of buses and trains from December 29, Government of Singapore is giving public transport vouchers. In this connection, more than 150,000 applications were received for this year’s Public Transport Voucher Exercise.
“The Public Transport Voucher Exercise were carried at the 108 community centres/clubs (CCs) island-wide and more than 150,000 applications were received as at December 12, about two months after the exercise started on November 12,” said Ministry of Transport in a press release today.
Singapore Government has drawn SGD9 million from the Public Transport Fund to make available the largest number of Public Transport Vouchers in a single exercise – 300,000 Public Transport Vouchers worth SGD30 each. This is the largest number released in a single exercise.
Grassroots leaders have reached out to needy residents during house visits and community events to share about the voucher and help them with the application.
Selina Goh (58) shared that the vouchers would be helpful in defraying part of her transportation cost. The part-time childcare relief teacher stays with her husband who works odd jobs, and takes trains or buses to her workplace or the wet market about five times a week.
“I do not enjoy the benefits of the Senior Citizen Concession Card as I am not 60 yet. As such, these vouchers from the government will be useful and help lower the transport cost for me,” said Goh.
“Eligible households who meet the same income criteria as that for the ComCare Fund (i e. household income of SGD1,900 or below, or per capital income of not more than SGD650) may apply for the Public Transport Voucher throughout the exercise, which ends on October 31, 2019,” said MOT.
Upon successful application, each household will receive one Public Transport Voucher. Households that require more help can apply for additional vouchers through the community centres/clubs.
The Citizens’ Consultative Committees (CCCs) assess each application and have the discretion to help deserving cases who marginally miss these criteria or provide additional Public Transport Vouchers to households whom they deem to need more help.
Residents may approach their local CCs if they have any queries.