Sometimes, we might oversimplify the roles of public officers based on what we see them do on a daily basis. However, this merely scratches the surface of their duties and does not do justice to the complexities and significance of their service.

Here are four common, oversimplified job descriptions of Public Service roles and the actual, multifaceted responsibilities that lie beneath them.

1. Immigration & Checkpoints Authority

One stereotype that some may have of ICA officers is that they only spend their days sitting in counters clearing those travelling in and out of Singapore.

However, there is a lot more to what ICA officers do at the checkpoints as guardians of our borders. Their responsibilities lie not only in facilitating efficient movement of people and goods through the land, air, and sea checkpoints, but also in securing Singapore’s borders against smuggling attempts and security threats.

To detect and deter smuggling attempts, image analysts and cargo officers analyse radiographic images of the thousands of cargo trucks streaming into Singapore daily, ensuring that only legitimate goods enter the city-state.

Meanwhile, ICA’s first response teams are trained vigorously to respond to any security-related incidents at the checkpoints, such as hostage situations, gunman attacks, and bomb threats.

Armed in protective gear and technology such as body worn cameras, this team of officers are specially trained to remain vigilant and be ready to spring into action quickly whenever a security threat surfaces.

To identify and sieve out travellers with dubious intentions, ICA’s Assessment & Investigation officers are equipped with mobile tablets that help them to profile and assess persons of interest while on the move in our immigration halls.

2. Land Transport Authority

Most tend to assume that the LTA is responsible for patrolling public paths and roads (or even mistake the LTA for Singapore’s Traffic Police), but these enforcement officers who take action against errant motorists or path users make up just one subset of the diverse group of LTA officers.

On a broader scale, LTA officers are responsible for planning, designing, building, and maintaining Singapore’s land transport infrastructure and systems. They aim to bring about a greener and more inclusive public transport network complemented by walk and cycle options.

They manage traffic flow, enhance the nation’s road and rail networks, and support active mobility options for a car-lite city.

In an effort to build an inclusive and sustainable city, LTA officers are also actively involved in the planning and development of active mobility infrastructure, such as footpaths and cycling paths.

Meanwhile, officers are also working to support the vision of 100 percent cleaner energy vehicles by 2040. For instance, through the deployment of a nationwide electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure to meet charging needs of Singapore’s growing EV population. As part of their responsibilities, they develop new EV regulations and standards, and work with industry stakeholders to cultivate a robust EV ecosystem in Singapore. 

3. National Parks Board

NParks officers play a pivotal role in transforming Singapore into a City in Nature, yet most Singaporeans tend to associate their jobs with just “planting trees”. In reality, NParks officers have various job scopes relating to greenery, biodiversity conservation, wildlife and animal health, and more.

Veterinarians at the Animal & Veterinary Service, a cluster within NParks, investigate outbreaks of animal and zoonotic diseases in Singapore while monitoring existing ones. They also monitor imported animals to detect and prevent the spread of any exotic diseases.

Apart from this, arborists (also known as “tree doctors”) at NParks conduct regular tree inspections to ensure that our trees are in good health, select tree species for specific planting schemes, and oversee the planting of roadside trees.

To conserve and increase the population of endangered species in Singapore, NParks’ biodiversity and conservation officers monitor and record native flora and fauna and carry out species recovery programmes.

4. National Environment Agency

In the city-state’s battle with dengue, NEA has implemented various strategies aimed at tackling its spread and increasing public awareness of the disease, such as conducting inspections of homes and premises for mosquito breeding.

Many tend to catch NEA officers in action inspecting for mosquito breeding, but that doesn’t mean that their primary role is limited to this. As a whole, they ensure Singapore remains clean.

For instance, NEA’s Division of Public Cleanliness (DPC) aims to improve the cleaning service quality in public areas. In addition, DPC also manages the clean-up of public places after emergency events such as road spillage, coastal oil spills, floods, volcanic ash fallout and infectious disease outbreaks.

On the other hand, NEA’s Hawker Centres Group (HCG) manages hawker centres and markets across Singapore, ensuring they can continue to be places where people can enjoy affordable food in a hygienic environment.

Behind the scenes, NEA’s engineers drive Singapore’s efforts towards becoming a zero-waste nation. Some engineers work with energy-intensive companies to help them develop energy efficiency plans, while others handle infrastructure planning for waste management, among others.

Recognising and Appreciating the Diverse Roles of Public Service Officers

These nuanced and varied responsibilities highlight the pivotal role of Public Service officers in making Singapore a better home for all. Thank you, public officers, for your dedication, expertise, and the impact you make!

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