Social Service Office in Punggol opens

SINGAPORE — A Social Service Office (SSO) was officially opened in the fast-growing town of Punggol today (Oct 2), the penultimate office out of the 24 SSOs the Ministry of Social and Family Development planned to set up across Singapore by the end of the year. 

Speaking to the media a day after they were sworn in, Acting Minister for Education (Schools) and Member of Parliament for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC Ng Chee Meng said while residents in Punggol have varied needs, he has mostly seen cases of those who need financial assistance. 

“We will make sure that we map out the proper packages to help them in the immediate term. But for the longer term, we hope to match them with proper jobs so that they can get back on their own feet,” he said of the newly-opened SSO at Punggol 21 Community Club. 

The SSO in Punggol began operations on Sept 7 and has seen 90 cases to date. Prior the setting up of the new office, its General Manager Tan Sushan handled some 280 cases referred from the SSO in Tampines. 

Ms Tan added that most the cases they have seen so far mostly involve young families with three or more children as well as those with foreign spouses. Most of them face financial problems and the office will try provide assistance in the short-term and refer them to the correct agencies to solve outstanding issues such as long-term medical bills, she said. 

Having built 23 SSOs to date, Parliamentary Secretary for Social and Family Development Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim also said yesterday that people are not only familiar with the name “SSO”, but also associate it with a facility that is near and accessible.

“(This) is important when you want to engage and work with partners and residents, the accessibility is very important,” he added.