On behalf of the Inter-Agency Task Force’s Technical Working Group (TWG) on Anticipatory and Forward Planning, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) will conduct the Business and Consumer Rapid Assessment Surveys. The Business Rapid Assessment Survey (BRAS) will be a rider to the April round of the 2020 Quarterly Survey of Philippine Business and Industry (QSPBI) while the Consumer Rapid Assessment Survey (CRAS) will be a rider survey to the PSA's April round of the 2020 Labor Force Survey.

The results of the surveys will serve as basis of the TWG on Anticipatory and Forward Planning to assess the impact of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) to the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the country and their effects on the consumers. It also aims to design appropriate policies and recommendations to help stimulate the economy and adapt to the "new normal" in the economic activities.

Data items to be collected in the BRAS are as follows:

• company profile such as primary business sector, company location, total number of employees and total assets;
• impacts of COVID-19 in terms of changes in the cost of supplies and raw materials, comparative sales and employment between March and February 2020, sales forecast, change in working arrangement adopted and funding sources during ECQ;
• perception about COVID-19 in terms of concerns and foreseen obstacles in maintaining the business and actions to be taken if the ECQ is prolonged, business outlook in the next six months after the lifting of ECQ, and satisfaction on the mitigating measures or programs of the government in helping the business; and
• policy recommendations.

The BRAS questionnaires will be distributed to about 6,000 sample establishments nationwide starting 15 April 2020. Results of the survey are expected to be released in July 2020.  A total of budget of PHP 4.21 million will also be utilized to conduct the BRAS.

Meanwhile, the CRAS will collect information on the following:

• demographic characteristics of household head;
• family income level changes and reasons for changes in family income during ECQ;
• assessment of adequacy of meeting basic needs and measures undertaken to cope with meeting basic needs during ECQ;
• assessment of accessibility of goods and services during ECQ;
• assessment of accessibility of goods and services for senior citizens, persons with disability/ies, pregnant women and school-aged children during ECQ;
• outlook on family income in the next six months;
• consumer durables intended to be bought after ECQ;
• plans for domestic and overseas travel in the next 12 months;
• forms of assistance received during the ECQ; and
• insights and recommendations on the most effective interventions ensuring the protection of families from similar pandemic.

The 2020 LFS, which includes CRAS as a rider module, will be administered to about 42,000 households nationwide in April 2020.

The BRAS and the 2020 LFS, where the CRAS is linked, were reviewed and cleared for conduct under the Statistical Survey Review and Clearance System (SSRCS), a mechanism being implemented by the PSA by virtue of Rule 28 of Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 10625 to:

• ensure sound design for data collection,
• minimize the burden placed upon respondents,
• effect economy in statistical data collection,
• eliminate unnecessary duplication of statistical data collection efforts, and
• achieve better coordination of government statistical activities.

In line with this, the PSA enjoins establishments and the general public to respond to these surveys.

For further information on SSRCS, please contact the Statistical Standards Division of the Standards Service with telephone numbers (02) 8376-1928 and
(02) 8376-1931, and email address: ssd.staff@psa.gov.ph or ssdss.staff@gmail.com.

CLAIRE DENNIS S. MAPA, Ph.D.
Undersecretary
National Statistician and Civil Registrar General

See more at the Statistical Survey Review and Clearance System (SSRCS) landing page.