NSCB Resolution No. 8
Series of 2004

ENJOINING GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO STRICTLY ABIDE BY THE STANDARDS IN THE RELEASE OF OFFICIAL STATISTICS IN THE PHILIPPINE STATISTICAL SYSTEM

WHEREAS, the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) is continuing its efforts to improve the availability and dissemination of statistics in the Philippine Statistical System (PSS);

WHEREAS, the United Nations (UN) Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics provide that official statistics are to be compiled and made available on an impartial basis by official statistical agencies to honor citizens’ entitlement to public information;

WHEREAS, it is also stipulated in the Fundamental Principles that to facilitate a correct interpretation of the data, the statistical agencies are to present information according to scientific standards on the sources, methods and procedures of the statistics, and that the statistical agencies are entitled to comment on erroneous interpretation and misuse of statistics;

WHEREAS, mechanisms for good data dissemination practices have been instituted in the PSS through NSCB Resolution No. 8, Series of 1999 – Adoption of the General Standards on Statistical Information Dissemination (GSSID) which set appropriate standards of reliability, integrity, timeliness, transparency and accessibility of government statistics, and NSCB Resolution No. 7, Series of 2000 – Dissemination of Advance Release Calendars of Statistical Activities;

WHEREAS, the set of standards prescribed in the GSSID include, among others, the dissemination in advance of a calendar of data release and the provision of metadata or technical notes which the data-producing agencies should implement for the information of the public;

WHEREAS, an advance release calendar (ARC) is a mechanism aimed at promoting transparency, timeliness and accessibility of statistics by informing the public as to what and when official statistics will become available, disseminated via the agency website or printed public announcements, and updated regularly;

WHEREAS, the NSCB is responsible for the monitoring of the availability of various statistics under the System of Designated Statistics and the International Monetary Fund’s Special Data Dissemination Standards through the ARCs submitted by the concerned agencies and posted in the NSCB website;

WHEREAS, based on the ARCs, there is simultaneous release of statistics to the users through press releases and the web but for some data, advanced copy is provided to specific government departments for their information and rapid economic assessment and as a good practice for data dissemination, the advanced copies of the data are labeled “press embargo until a specific date and time” to denote that no releases shall be done prior to the scheduled release date and time;

WHEREAS, there have been cases of statistics being released by recipients of data labeled with “press embargo” prior to the scheduled/announced release date and time which may have caused confusion among the users, including the media and wire agencies, and cast doubt on the credibility of: (a) the ARC process; (b) the data producing agency; (c) the PSS; and (d) the government;

WHEREAS, there have also been cases of erroneous reporting or misinterpretation of data by the media;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, that the Board enjoin the government agencies to strictly abide by the following data dissemination standards in the release of official statistics in the PSS:

(1) preparation and dissemination of advance release calendar and metadata or technical notes; and

(2) labeling of “press embargo” the advanced copy of data provided to some government departments or agencies;

BE IT RESOLVED FURTHER that the Board enjoin: (1) the recipients of the advanced copy to strictly honor the restrictions provided in the press embargo; and (2) the agencies/individuals to take appropriate measures to avoid erroneous reporting or misinterpretation of data, and the data source agencies to respond or provide comments to any erroneous reporting or misinterpretation of data.

Approved this 11th day of June 2004, in Pasig City.

Attested by:

ROMULO A. VIROLA
Secretary General