Singapore – Filipino families building a life in Singapore have plenty to look forward to. The government just rolled out a wide set of new benefits aimed at parents, from longer childcare leave to bigger cash support for newborns and better odds of landing a flat.
According to a report from the Prime Minister’s Office, based on the National Day Rally 2026 address delivered by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on August 23, the measures cover childcare leave, family finances, housing access, and long-term land plans across the island.
More Childcare Leave for Working Parents
Parents will now get childcare leave that grows with the size of their family. The days apply to those with children aged 12 and below:
- 1 child — 8 days
- 2 children — 10 days
- 3 or more children — 12 days
To put it in perspective, a working couple with three kids in primary school currently shares just four days. Under the new setup, they will have 24 days combined.
Bigger Cash Support for Newborns
Every new baby will come with a stronger financial head start:
- Baby Gift worth S$10,000 (around ₱430,000)
- MediSave grant of S$5,000 (around ₱215,000)
- Child Development Account with an initial S$5,000 (around ₱215,000), plus a matching grant of up to S$5,000
Support That Continues as Kids Grow
The help doesn’t stop at birth. As children get older, families can expect:
- Child Credits of S$2,000 (around ₱86,000) each year, from ages 1 to 16
- Edusave top-ups through primary and secondary school
- A S$10,000 contribution (around ₱430,000) into the Post-Secondary Education Account at age 17
Better Chances at Housing
First-time families applying for new flats will earn one extra ballot chance for every child they have or are expecting, improving their odds of securing a home.
Income ceilings are also going up:
- BTO flats: raised from S$14,000 to S$16,000
- Executive Condominiums: raised from S$16,000 to S$18,000
Looking Further Ahead
Beyond family support, Wong shared long-term plans to merge several offshore islands south of Jurong, including Semakau, Bukom, and Pulau Sudong, into one larger landmass over the coming decades.
He also pointed to Pulau Brani near Sentosa as a future site for new attractions, once its port operations move elsewhere.