Singapore Prime Minister Wants More Babies in Singapore

[pioneer]

by PNA

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Sunday he was "fervently" hoping for a baby boom in the Year of the Dragon that begins on January 23.

The total fertility rate of the city state rebounded slightly to 1.2 in 2011 from the record low of 1.15 in 2010, but Lee said he did not believe it was a sign of the reversal of the long-term downward trend.

"Singapore's total fertility rate has been steadily dropping from 1.6 in 2000 to 1.2 in 2011, despite many government measures to encourage couples to have more children," Lee said in his Lunar New Year message.

In particular, the fertility rate among the Chinese community, which accounted for about 75 percent of the population, dropped from 1.43 to 1.08 over the same period.

Lee said it is one of the priorities for Singaporeans to grow their families.

"Having children is ultimately a personal decision for families to make, but government will do its part to reduce the anxieties and burdens of parenthood," he said.

Historically, more babies are born in a Year of the Dragon as some Chinese families prefer to have "Dragon" children, believed to be smarter, more successful or lucky.

Lee said that the government is committed to helping young couples get their first housing unit as soon as possible and that the childcare services are expanding and becoming more affordable.

"The critical factor now is not more financial incentives, but creating the supportive social climate and attitudes that will encourage couples to have more children," he said.

According to official data, Singapore has 3.79 million residents in 2011, with 9.3 percent of them being over the age of 65.

[hubag bohol]

Year of the Dragon man, daghan2x ron ang matawo nga Singaporeans...