Forum: More practical for CDC vouchers to be issued in $5 denomination
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The CDC vouchers are meant to ease daily living costs, yet their current $10 denomination creates unintended burdens.
For singles and lower-spending households, a typical hawker meal costs between $4 and $5. Being forced to use $10 vouchers means either overspending or scrambling for change.
With another $300 tranche due in January 2026, there is still time to act. Even if some vouchers have already been printed, adjustments can and should be made to issue them in $5 denomination.
Practicality must take precedence over administrative convenience.
Issuing vouchers in $5 denomination would better match everyday spending patterns, especially at hawker centres and heartland stalls. It would also signal respect for the diversity of household sizes and consumption habits.
A well-intentioned policy should not inadvertently force citizens to spend more than they need. CDC vouchers in $5 denomination would be practical and inclusive.
Dennis Tan Seow Koon
