The rise in the number of babies born last year is extremely welcome, as it is an issue that matters deeply to Singapore ("600 more babies for SG50"; Feb 3, and "SG50 baby boom: One-off or new trend?"; Sunday).

That the number of babies born in the Year of the Goat, which is not a traditionally popular year, could outdo the number born in the Year of the Dragon should show that such considerations no longer figure heavily in Singaporeans' baby-making decisions.

This spurt need not be a one-off. There must be no let-up in urgency to make sense of last year's baby phenomenon.

An increase in monetary perks and enhancement of family-friendly measures - likely the gestures most welcomed by parents - for a second year may be just the catalyst needed to trigger a repeat boom, and for it to gain a foothold to become a trend.

The birth increase momentum is too rare not to ride upon, and offers a case study too good to miss.

This is one investment that has paid off for Singapore. Another successful year with more babies born will make the Jubilee year not only a milestone year but also a turnaround year.

Ooi Mun Kong