SINGAPORE, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- Singapore will allocate nearly 7 billion Singapore dollars (about 5.18 billion USD dollars) to marriage and parenthood initiatives in the financial year 2026 (April 2026 -- March 2027), up from over 4 billion Singapore dollars in 2020, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Indranee Rajah told the parliament on Wednesday.

The announcement came during a parliamentary debate on a motion supporting Singaporeans in starting and raising families. The motion calls for continuous review and updates to policies that better support families and align with Singaporeans' marriage and parenthood aspirations.

Supporting families remains a top national priority, even as family formation and fertility rates decline in Singapore and globally due to shifting social norms, said Rajah, also second minister for finance and national development.

She also noted that the 7 billion Singapore dollar budget is in addition to existing government subsidies in areas such as education and housing.

During the debate, many suggestions focused on enhanced housing and financial support to encourage parenthood, as well as greater caregiving assistance for families. (1 Singapore dollar equals 0.74 U.S. dollar) ■