The burial to order programme
Under the Burial to Order (BTO) programme, citizens have to ballot for their own ‘death residency’ on two occasions. Upon birth, parents of newborn citizens are required to register their child’s burial lot of choice, and register it under the authorities within seven days. Once a citizen reaches the age of 18, the disposition method and spot can be re-balloted on their own accord.
Burial spots are allocated through the balloting system and by probability, and supported by a myriad of reasons ranging from proximity to one’s home, to space constraints, to strict religious beliefs and socio-economic status. For example, if one’s application is successful, they will be able to use a ground burial at Choa Chu Kang cemetery or store the deceased’s remains in a public or private columbarium — but with expected higher prices for storage and upkeep. They can then return to these physical spaces to commemorate or memorialise their loved ones.
afterdeath facilities in 2135
There are fifteen sea burial facilities located along the shores and coastlines of Singapore. Each sea burial is subsided by up to 70% by the government.
There are five in-land ash scattering gardens available in Singapore in conjunction with the current five public columbariums located across sectors. Prices to conduct a burial at these locations are fully subsidised by the government.
Singapore strictly has five public columbaria, which are re-distributed evenly across the island and integrated as community or neighbourhood features. No subsidies are available for urn storage in these facilities.
Only one plot of burial ground at Choa Chu Kang Cemetery (measuring 500 hectares sized for 90,000 burials) is available for ground burials in Singapore. No subsidies are available.
BALLOTING FOR AN AFTERDEATH RESIDENCY
Due to land scarcity and limited spots available for ground burials and urn storage lots, all Singapore citizens are required to fill in this form as a form of official agreement and thereafter, choose and ballot for their own death residency. Residents will attend balloting sessions found at community centers and other public premises in Singapore.
The balloting process
The Burial To Order (BTO) Programme consists of a methodical process — from the filling up of a BTO form, the balloting of burial spots, and the choosing of a preferred disposition spot. The BTO process exists on both printed matter found at BTO booths and online. Under the Burial to Order (BTO) programme, citizens have to ballot for their own ‘death residency’ on two occasions.
Upon birth, parents of newborn citizens are required to register their child’s burial lot of choice, and register it under the authorities within seven days. Once a citizen reaches the age of 18, the disposition method and spot can be re-balloted on their own accord. Burial spots are allocated through probability and demand, substantiated by a myriad of reasons ranging from proximity to one’s home, to space constraints, to one’s religious beliefs and socio-economic status.
1. Read up on the various schemes and public residencies available.
3. Choose your ballot option using the ballot form. Note that special requests such as a private columbarium placement, or a space or diamond burial, is requested through the special request form.
2. Read the instructions carefully and fill up the BTO Application form.
4. After completing the BTO process, drop the ballot form in the ballot box. This concludes the end of the BTO process.
The balloting results
Once you have submitted your application and ballot form in-person, please wait up to one month for the results of your application. You will be notified via SMS or email. You can also ballot digitally — by filling up the BTO online form and picking of death residencies through the interactive map. Applications done digitally will be processed immediately. Once your application results are out, do note the disposition and residency that you have been allocated to. Do note that any requests after confirmation will not be entertained, unless stated prior in the special request form submitted with the ballot form.
BTO DIGITAL ADVERTISING BOARD
The Burial to Order (BTO) Digital Board is a collection of advertisements and artefacts functioning as a digital signboard found in Singapore, in the year 2135. The BTO Digital Board can be viewed on digital advertising screens found in estates, malls and other public premises. Drag and click on the matter below to find out more about the speculated interventions in 2135 — the Burial to Order programme, advertisements from Preserve Corporation, Cosmos, other notices from the state and private entities.