SINGAPORE: At least S$1 million will be set aside from the ComCare Fund to help the needy cope with inflation, Minister of State for Community Development, Youth and Sports Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon said on Sunday.

The ComCare Fund is also working with NTUC FairPrice to come up with schemes to help the lower-income group.

"As (the) chairman of ComCare, I have enough budget and am ready to supplement the effort... As long as (the) ComCare Endowment Fund is concerned, any scheme that comes out from NTUC, we are prepared to support," said Mrs Yu-Foo.

"The help is there, the resources (are) there, the thing now is... how to effectively reach out," she added.

ComCare has worked with FairPrice to give out food vouchers to the needy in the past, and Mrs Yu-Foo said needy Singaporeans can tap on the S$63.7 million ComCare Fund budgeted for this year.

Those who need help can call the ComCare helpline (1800-COMCARE) launched last year.

The Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) received about 8,600 calls over the last three months, and there has not been an increase in the number of calls asking for help due to higher food prices.

Mrs Yu-Foo said most calls received have been about unemployment and coping with family finances.

Food vouchers for staples such as rice will come in handy with the recent hike in the price of rice.

However, the frenzied buying seemed to have stabilised.

Some shoppers at a FairPrice outlet in Toa Payoh said they do not stock up on rice as they are confident that there is enough supply.

But some are still buying slightly more than usual.

"If they have enough stock, why (do) they increase the price of rice?" said a shopper.

FairPrice said although prices are up, with discounts given for its house brand, the overall increase is still less than 10 per cent, which is lower than the average 30-per-cent increase elsewhere. - CNA/ac