NSCB Resolution No. 1
Series of 2012

ADOPTING THE PSS AGENDA IN SUPPORT
OF THE BUSAN ACTION PLAN FOR STATISTICS

WHEREAS, the Partnership in Statistics for Development in the 21st Century (PARIS21) in collaboration with the World Bank and other partners proposed the Busan Action Plan for Statistics during the Fourth High-Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness held from 29 November to 1 December 2011 in Busan, Korea;

WHEREAS, in the said Forum, the Philippines, along with other countries worldwide, pledged support for the implementation of the Busan Action Plan for Statistics;

WHEREAS, the Busan Action Plan for Statistics recognizes that reliable and accessible data provide the evidence needed to measure and document results, increase the transparency and effectiveness of policy making, and enforce public accountability;

WHEREAS, it maintains that the production and dissemination of quality country-level statistics is an essential “country system” that requires strengthening to support the Busan High-Level Forum themes: transparency, accountability and results;

WHEREAS, it calls for a system-wide approach to capacity development; greater transparency, adoption of new standards and use of new methods and technologies to increase the relevance, reliability and accessibility of official statistics;  and a country-led process to address country-defined needs to be implemented by existing partnerships, agencies, and institutions;

WHEREAS, it aims to fully integrate statistics in decision making, promote open access to and use of data; and increase resources for statistical systems;

WHEREAS, the Busan Action Plan for Statistics proposes five major actions as follows:

Action 1:    Strengthen and refocus national and regional statistical strategies to produce the data that support country level development;

Action 2:    Improve accessibility of statistics and implement standards enabling full public access to official statistics;

Action 3:    Develop programs to increase the knowledge and skills needed to use statistics effectively;

Action 4:    Build and maintain results monitoring instruments to track outcomes of all global summits and high level forums and outcome documents to recognize the need for statistical capacity development

Action 5:    Ensure financing for statistics is robust and funding mechanisms responsive.

WHEREAS, some of the existing programs and mechanisms in the Philippine Statistical System (PSS) are already aligned with the Busan Action Plan for Statistics and its objectives are consistent with the strategies and programs in the Philippine Statistical Development Program (PSDP) 2011-2017;

WHEREAS, recognizing the importance of adopting the Busan Action Plan for Statistics in the PSS, the major statistical agencies (NSCB, NSO, BAS, BLES, BSP, SRTC) discussed and agreed on the proposed strategies to adopt the BAPS, taking into consideration the major programs as articulated in the PSDP 2011-2017, as follows:

Comprehensive review and revision of the SDS in terms of coverage, relevance and quality of statistics/indicators, methodology, frequency, and disaggregation and designation of new/critical statistics to address emerging and evolving information needs;

In Support of Action 1

1. Generation of quality statistics that address the priority information needs of the government and other stakeholders, specifically to monitor the PDP 2011-2016
2. Enhancement of the System of Designated Statistics (SDS) to address emerging statistical needs in support of national development priorities through the following actions, among others:
   • Comprehensive review and revision of the SDS in terms of coverage, relevance and quality of statistics/indicators, methodology, frequency, and disaggregation and designation of new/critical statistics to address emerging and evolving information needs;
      
3. Development/enhancement of standards and systems for improved data generation and dissemination of quality statistics at the national and local levels through the following actions, among others:
   • Strengthening and improvement of the Statistical Survey Review and Clearance System;
   • Implementation of shorter processing time for censuses and surveys;
   • Maximum utilization of administrative-based records as primary and/or alternative sources of data;
   • Development of mechanisms for increased data sharing and data harmonization among government agencies;
   • Increased use of ICT in data collection and processing;
   • Improvement of the master sample for surveys;
      
4. Adoption of international guidelines and standards and participation in global and regional data generation initiatives (e.g., by the United Nations, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, ASEANstats) to ensure comparability of statistics generated across sectors in the economy and across countries in the region and in the world;
    
5. Monitoring and evaluation of the implementation and periodic updating of the PSDP 2011-2017 to be attuned with emerging country development concerns;

In Support of Action 2

6. Expansion and strengthening of the Government Statistics Accessibility Program through the following actions, among others:

• • Establishment of an integrated statistics portal to disseminate all available data, microdata and metadata resources in the PSS;
  • Establishment of data archives and warehouses;
  • Rationalization of policy on data sharing and pricing of statistical outputs;
  • Enhancement of data dissemination and communication techniques using appropriate technology and adoption of alternative and modern modes of communication.

In Support of Action 3

7. Strengthen engagement between data producers and data users through the following actions, among others:

• Conduct of regular dialogues to level expectations and increase statistical awareness and appreciation;
• Increased technical assistance to data users;
• Strengthening capacity of local government units and other stakeholders to use quality statistics for evidence-based planning and decision-making;

8. Enhancement of the education and advocacy on the importance and rational use of statistics through the following actions, among others:

• • Development of appropriate manuals for responsible use of statistics;
  • Conduct of appreciation seminars/statistical training for data providers and data users in the rationale use of statistics;
  • Preparation and dissemination of popular versions of statistics;

In Support of Action 4

9. Greater involvement of data producers in the discussion of requirements to deliver Philippine commitments and monitor outcomes of all global summits and high level forums;

10. Establishment of an M&E system to keep track of outcomes of Philippine commitments to global summits and high-level forums through the following actions, among others:

• • Institutionalization of a feedback and reporting system on the status of action taken on Philippine commitments in global summits and high-level forums;
  • Development of indicator systems to measure outcomes of Philippine commitments in global summits and high-level forums;

In Support of Action 5

11. Increasing investment in statistics and in the PSS through the following actions, among others:

• Formulation of a medium-term expenditure framework for the PSS;
• Establishment of a sustainable financing scheme for statistics development including right-sizing of the statistical workforce;
• Cost-sharing with stakeholders for the generation of statistics;
• Conduct of regular advocacy fora with development partners and oversight agencies;
• Inclusion of investments in statistics in the Public Investments Program of the Philippine government

In Support of Actions 1 to 5

12. Strengthening capacity of data producers in the PSS to deliver quality statistical products and services through increased training and scholarship programs.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, that the Board approve the PSS agenda in support of the Busan Action Plan for Statistics.

BE IT RESOLVED FURTHER that agencies be enjoined to implement the programs in the PSS agenda in support of the Busan Action Plan for Statistics, in consistency with the strategies and programs in the PSDP 2011-2017.

Approved this 9th day of February 2012, in Pasig City.

Attested by:

ROMULO A. VIROLA
Secretary General