Top MOF officer recalls how Budget policies evolved amid pandemic

No 'full-dress rehearsal' for a situation like Covid-19; strategies needed to be refined along the way

Permanent Secretary for Finance Tan Ching Yee said while there were measures in the first Unity Budget in February to help families with the longstanding issue of cost of living, as the pandemic progressed, it became clear that more had to be done to
Permanent Secretary for Finance Tan Ching Yee said Covid-19 was not a situation for which there had been a "full-dress rehearsal". ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH
New: Gift this subscriber-only story to your friends and family

To fight the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government has dedicated almost $100 billion across four Budgets this year.

While there were measures in the first Unity Budget in February to help families with the longstanding issue of cost of living, as the pandemic progressed, it became clear that more had to be done to keep Singaporeans' and businesses' heads above water, said Permanent Secretary for Finance Tan Ching Yee.

Already a subscriber? 

Read the full story and more at $9.90/month

Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month

Unlock these benefits

  • All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com

  • Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device

  • E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you

Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on December 01, 2020, with the headline Top MOF officer recalls how Budget policies evolved amid pandemic. Subscribe