NSCB Resolution No.2
Series of 1999

BUDGETARY THRUSTS OF THE PHILIPPINE STATISTICAL SYSTEM
FOR CY 2000

WHEREAS, the overall mission of the Philippine Statistical System (PSS) is to provide adequate, relevant, reliable and accessible statistical information and services to the public;

WHEREAS, there is a need to define a common framework and direction for the PSS member agencies in formulating their plans and programs;

WHEREAS, the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) is the policy-making and coordinating body on statistical matters in the government;

WHEREAS, the NSCB thru an Inter-agency Steering Committee, is now in the process of formulating the 1999-2004 Philippine Statistical Development Program (PSDP);

WHEREAS, the Department of Budget and Management issued National Budget Memorandum No. 88 dated February 24, 1999 providing for the policy guidelines and procedures in the preparation of the CY 2000 budget proposals;

WHEREAS, the PSS recognizes the importance of ensuring a linkage between planning and budgeting;

WHEREAS, pending the finalization of the PSDP, there is a need to define the budgetary thrusts to be adopted by all PSS member agencies in preparing their budget proposals for statistical activities for CY 2000;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED that the Board approve the following budgetary thrusts of the PSS for CY 2000:

1. Generation of statistical information relevant to development planning and decision making

     1.1 Generation and dissemination of the designated statistics in accordance with EO 352, particularly the following periodic censuses and surveys:

          1.1.1 2000 Census of Population and Housing

          1.1.2 2001 Census of Agriculture (Preparatory activities)

          1.1.3 1999 Census of Establishments 1.1.4 2000 Family Income and
           Expenditures Survey

          1.1.5 1999 Survey of Establishments for the Construction of Benchmark
           Input-Output Table

          1.1.6 2000 Food Consumption Survey (Preparatory activities)

          1.1.7 2001 Updating of Nutritional Status of Filipino Children
           (Preparatory activities)

     1.2 Development of statistical indicators that will aid in the formulation and  implementation of policies, legislation, programs and projects of the government and private sectors in support of such priority areas of action, as food security, poverty alleviation, gender and development, countryside development, productivity improvement, global competitiveness, macroeconomic stability and governance reformation;

2. Preserving the wealth of statistical information and making them more accessible to the public, both local and foreign

     2.1 Development and maintenance of electronic data archiving systems to preserve the wealth of statistical information produced by the PSS;

     2.2 Development of a Geographic Information System (GIS) using local level statistics and indicators;

     2.3 Development of Public Use Files from censuses and surveys to maximize the use of data for research particularly for subnational development planning;

     2.4 Development and maintenance of one-stop statistical information centers in all regions which are linked electronically to data producers and users;

3. Human Resource Development

     3.1 Expansion and upgrading of the organizational structure, staffing, technology and facilities for statistical activities to be able to provide more relevant and comprehensive statistical services, particularly those covered with Presidential directives;

     3.2 Upgrading manpower skills particularly on new technological advances, data evaluation and analysis;

     3.3 Upgrading of statistics education to improve its relevance to changing demands;

4. Conduct of research and development to respond to future demands

     4.1 On the development of "paper-less" data collection systems to improve the timeliness and quality of socio-economic indicators;

     4.2 On alternative techniques towards the development of more cost-effective data collection;

5. Improvement of local statistical systems in support of devolution and countryside development

     5.1 Generation and dissemination of more sub-regional statistics/indicators;

     5.2 Establishment of statistical coordination units in all regions and
           creation/upgrading of statistician positions in the local offices.

BE IT RESOLVED FURTHER THAT, all PSS member agencies are enjoined to incorporate in their budget proposals for CY 2000, the requirements to achieve the above thrusts. The agencies concerned shall submit to the NSCB the budget proposals for statistical activities that cannot be accommodated within the agency baseline budget for CY 2000. The NSCB Technical Staff shall evaluate and submit its recommended prioritization to the agencies, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). The agencies shall inform the NSCB of their final budget allocation as approved and endorsed by the DBM to Congress.

Approved this 18th day of March 1999 in Pasig City.