Singapore Government Press Release
Media Division, Ministry of Information and The Arts,
36th Storey, PSA Building, 460 Alexandra Road, Singapore 119963.
Tel: 3757794/5
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FORMATION OF PWD CORPORATION (PWD Co) AND
THE BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION AUTHORITY (BCA)
The Public Works Department (PWD), a department under the Ministry of National Development, will be corporatised on 1 Apr 1999. This move is in line with the Government’s on-going efforts to progressively devolve the non-policy and non-regulatory functions from its various Ministries and departments. The aim is to create a leaner and trimmer public sector which focuses on its core functions such as planning and regulation.
2 Concurrently, a new statutory board called the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) will be formed through the merger of the present Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) and PWD’s Building Control Division. BCA will regulate building works and promote the development of the construction industry.
3 PWD Co, which will operate as a government-linked company, will undertake the non-regulatory functions of the present PWD. These include the provision of engineering and architectural consultancy services, estate management services and the development of building projects for Ministries and government departments. PWD Co will provide multi-disciplinary engineering and architectural consultancy services to leverage on its existing core strengths in infrastructure development. It will continue to service its existing clients.
4 The merger of CIDB and BCD will bring their development and regulatory functions pertaining to the construction industry under a single entity. BCA, which is also to be formed on 1 Apr 1999, aims to develop a technologically advanced construction industry and to ensure that buildings and infrastructure in Singapore are built to high safety and quality standards.
5 Most of PWD’s current staff will be absorbed by PWD Co. As some of the functions currently performed by PWD will no longer be relevant to the new company, and a restructuring of the department was also carried out to prepare for the corporatisation, some staff will be released by PWD. MND will be working closely with the other Ministries, departments and statutory boards so as to re-deploy as many of those officers as possible who have either not been given a job offer or who opt to reject the job offer by the company.
6 With PWD’s corporatisation, its current legislative functions will be transferred to BCA and the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA). BCA will administer the following legislation:
(a) the Building Control Act;
(b) the Buildings and Common Properties (Maintenance and Management) Act;
(c) Part II (Section 7) and Part IV of the Land Titles Act (Strata) Act,
(d) the Sand and Granite Quarries Act; and
(e) the enforcement of the Regulation of Imports and Exports Act (for volcanic rock aggregates not exceeding 40mm).
URA will administer the following legislation:
(a) the Housing Developers (Control and Licensing) Act;
(b) the Residential Property Act (Section 31);
(c) the Sales of Commercial Properties Act; and
(d) the Foreshores Act (Section 3).
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MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
2 Oct 98
For clarifications, please contact Ms Lim Chuen Ni at Tel: 325 7264.