Residents of Tampines now have access to a larger and better equipped Central Provident Fund Service Center to service their needs.
The center is located in the CPF Tampines Building and officially reopened on Saturday (September 10) after completing renovations that started last year.
This is the first renewal of the center since it began operating in 1994.
Floor space has been increased by approximately 50% and new layouts have made it accessible for users in wheelchairs and personal mobility devices.
We have set up a consultation room near the entrance so that such residents can feel free to stop by.
New features include 24/7 self-help kiosks for the public to access CPF Board online services.
Such kiosks are already operational at other centers in Bishan, Jurong East and Woodlands.
The remaining centers in Maxwell near Tanjong Pagar Road have self-help kiosks that are open during business hours.
Senior State Minister for Manpower, Sustainability and Environment Ko Pho Khun, who was the guest of honor at Saturday’s event, said the CPF Board’s introduction of kiosks and efforts to encourage Singaporeans to use mobile apps was timely. said.
“(The CPF board) will be able to respond more quickly to the public without increasing manpower,” he added, adding that Singaporeans have become accustomed to online transactions since the Covid-19 pandemic began. pointed out.
The center has rooms dedicated to public workshops run by government agencies.
It is one of two CPF service centers with this capability, the other being the Woodlands branch, which reopened in August after renovations.
Workshops conducted included one by the Infocom Media Development Authority, teaching senior residents how to spot fraud and practice safe online habits.
Digital Ambassadors, including staff from the CPF Board of Directors, will attend the center to help the public learn digital skills, such as using PayNow and accessing government services online.
On Saturday, CPF Board Chief Executive Augustin Lee said seven out of 10 residents served at the center were at least 50 years old before the pandemic. ratio is 8/10.
“So we increasingly want to cater to older and digitally savvy people to[use]our online services,” he added.
This digital push will enable CPF Board Customer Service Executives to better serve residents who need human assistance.
Janice Lai, group director of customer relations on the CPF board, said there are currently no plans to refurbish other service centers.
“It’s very important to get feedback from members of Woodlands and Tampines,” she said, adding that this information will help determine whether other centers need to be adapted to include facilities such as workshop rooms. added that it is used to
“The plan is to extend[such functionality]to the rest of the centers if that’s what residents want and see as useful,” Lai said.
A digital skills workshop for seniors was also held at the Tampines Center during Saturday’s event.
Madam Samia Sarikin, who attended the session, said she learned how to access government services online and how to download mobile apps.
“The center is convenient because it is close to the bus interchange,” said a 65-year-old.
Lim Say Kau and Madam Lao Heng Moi, both 79 years old, said the session was a good refresher on the digital skills they acquired in courses held by community centers and social institutions.
The couple also said they would return to the service center for similar workshops in the future.
