COVID-19 crisis unveils socially responsible Asia Property Awards (Singapore) winning developers

As they implement stricter measures and distribute millions worth of donations to communities in need 

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began to spread across Asia from China, the world has directed its spotlight onto Singapore, having noticed their swift and impressive measures to control the virus. 

Among the latest mandates from the local government is the enforcement of the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act 2020 wherein households who require financial assistance or individuals who cannot meet contractual obligations will be given temporary relief, reported OrionW Law Firm.  

The recently enacted law controls the movement of individuals, imposes physical distancing when outside, bans public gatherings and prevents the use of public recreation and sports facilities. All educational institutions and most business offices have also been ordered to close. 

Clusters of confirmed cases in a dormitory last week have prompted the authorities to separate non-infected foreign workers and house them in floating hotels, vacant Housing Board flats, military campsites and the Changi Exhibition Centre. 

Meanwhile, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) of Singapore have coated all 1.5 million lift buttons in 26,000 HDB lifts and lobbies with self-disinfecting coating, a move that was possible after the Changi Foundation donated 650 litres of coating to the 16 town councils. 

According to the data published by the World Health Organization, the city-state now has 2,532 confirmed cases and eight total deaths. 

As the nation battles the COVID-19 pandemic head-on, winning developers at the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Singapore) has decided to back up the government’s initiatives and support the citizens by implementing stricter measures and providing millions worth of contributions. 

Frasers Property Singapore has been working with Singapore Red Cross amid the outbreak. They have set up community blood donation drives at their retail and commercial properties and have funded the disaster risk reduction programme by Red Cross Youth, which focuses on promoting good hygiene practices to the elderly in at-risk neighbourhoods. They also provided financial support to the Red Cross Home for the Disabled and Red Cross Day Activity Centre for the Disabled, as well as for the Transport Aid and Medical Chaperone and Transportation Services.

This multi-national real estate business was one of the big winners at the 2019 PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Singapore), bagging the title for eight categories and receiving 16 highly commended trophies. 

More: Two Singapore property developers among the global 100 list of sustainable companies

To help ease their tenants’ financial worries as they struggle with temporary business disruptions and closures, City Developments Limited (CDL) has pledged USD17 million in property tax and rental rebates. They said that qualified tenants will receive 100 percent rental rebates for the month of April and 50 percent for the following month. 

In 2013 and 2016, they nabbed the Best Developer award, our most prestigious title at the South East Asia Property Awards (Singapore), now rebranded as PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Singapore). 

In hopes to help flatten the curve, UOL Group will be reducing the opening hours of their sales galleries. The viewing of show flats has now been limited to appointments only, from Monday to Thursday. They will also be introducing a new sales e-system for their clients to complete all documentation without having to physically drop by their offices. 

UOL won the Best Developer title at the 2012 South East Asia Property Awards (Singapore) and at the 2019 PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Singapore), along with 11 other golden trophies. 

Through their donations and relief efforts, these award-winning developers have demonstrated that Corporate Social Responsibility is not just a checklist that they needed to accomplish. They have shown us that they do remain socially responsible, most especially when the nation needs them.