S$3m set aside to help needy cope with impending bus fare hike
By Julia Ng, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 11 September 2007 1714 hrs

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	Related News • Adult EZ-link fares for buses up from October

SINGAPORE : Financial assistance will be given to needy families to help them cope with the impending bus fare hikes.

The government and public transport operators - SMRT Corporation and SBS Transit - have put aside S$3 million in public transport vouchers.

$2.4 million comes from the government's Public Transport Fund set up to help lower-income households with their public transport costs.

The public transport operators have contributed S$0.6 million.

Each voucher is worth S$30 and can be used to buy or top up EZ-Link cards, or to buy monthly concession passes.

The Citizens' Consultative Committees (CCC), which will receive the vouchers in late October, will distribute them to needy families.

The National Trades Union Congress will help give out the vouchers to its members.

Needy residents can also approach their grassroots leaders for assistance.

Those who need more help can tap into the CCC ComCare Fund.

The Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports said the CCC ComCare Fund helped about 4,500 cases and disbursed about S$770,000 in the first six months of this year. - CNA /ls