Expanding CDC Voucher Eligibility to Shophouse Merchants and Considerations for Appeals
Ministry of Culture, Community and YouthSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the expansion of the Community Development Council (CDC) Voucher Scheme to privately-owned shophouses and the criteria for handling resident appeals. MP Shawn Loh inquired about the number of additional merchants eligible under such an expansion and the factors considered by CDCs during the appeal process. Acting Minister Edwin Tong Chun Fai clarified that the scheme primarily focuses on supporting hawkers and merchants within Housing and Development Board heartlands. He explained that small businesses in underserved areas are onboarded on a case-by-case basis to ensure residents have adequate access to essential daily goods. Over 23,000 merchants are currently onboarded, with CDCs working alongside merchant associations to continue identifying and including eligible heartland businesses in the scheme.
Transcript
83 Mr Shawn Loh asked the Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (a) how many additional merchants will be included in the Community Development Council (CDC) Voucher Scheme if all merchants in privately-owned shophouses were eligible; (b) whether these merchants can be included if residents appeal to use CDC vouchers at these shops; and (c) what are the factors considered by CDC for such appeals.
Mr Edwin Tong Chun Fai: The Community Development Council (CDC) Vouchers Scheme was first introduced in June 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic with two key objectives: (i) to help Singaporean households cope with the cost of living; and (ii) to support hawkers and heartland merchants.
In line with the policy intent, our aim is to onboard hawkers and merchants in the Housing and Development Board (HDB) heartlands, such as those in the National Environment Agency-managed centres and HDB heartlands, including shops which offer daily goods or services.
However, there are instances where few or no heartland merchants are found within or near residential areas. In such locations, we have onboarded, on a case-by-case basis, small businesses that provide goods and services needed by residents.
To date, we have onboarded over 23,000 hawkers and heartland merchants on the CDC Voucher scheme. The CDCs will continue to work closely with key partners, including the Federation of Merchants' Association, Singapore, Heartland Enterprise Centre Singapore, and various merchant and hawker associations, to onboard eligible merchants in the heartlands.