The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) granted clearance for the conduct of the geotagging of service institutions and infrastructure, government projects, and natural resources for the 2022 Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) Nationwide Rollout.  Part of the CBMS implementation is the conduct of geotagging-related activities which serves as an essential component in the CBMS operations, as it allows to capture and to collect relevant and timely information about households/housing units, service facilities, government projects, and natural resources collected at the local level.

As defined in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Republic Act No. 11315, also known as the CBMS Act, geotagging refers to the process of adding metadata about government projects, household/housing units, service facilities, and natural resources to various media and of uploading to a web-based application. This enables the mapping of all areas in the Philippines and allows the government, citizenry, and other stakeholders to check the progress of projects in real time.

The geotagging operation for the 2022 CBMS Rollout aims to:

1. Gather accurate and relevant spatial and non-spatial (attribute) data of existing service institutions and infrastructure, government projects, and natural resources located in and within the vicinity of barangays;

2. Geotag and digitize the above-mentioned features/structures into the corresponding point, line, and/or polygon features; and

3. Produce a listing of features and structure maps and to generate maps using the collected information for subsequent planning, program implementation, and impact monitoring for economic development and poverty alleviation.

Further, with the use of reference maps and files from previous mapping operations and past census activities of the PSA, digital maps were prepared for geotagging operation for the 2022 CBMS Nationwide Rollout as it carries out the CBMS Form 5 – Service Institutions and Infrastructure, Government Projects, and Natural Resources. Two approaches will be employed in geotagging:

1. Tablet-based which employs the use of PSA-specified tablet installed with QField, an open-source mobile application used for map data collection; and

2. Paper-based which makes use of the printed version of the digital map.

The geotagging activity will be conducted from 13 March to 31 May 2023 and will cover all service institutions and infrastructure, and government projects in cities/municipalities participating in the 2022 CBMS.

The 2022 CBMS – Service Institutions and Infrastructure, Government Projects, and Natural Resources was 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:

1. ensure sound design for data collection;

2. minimize the burden placed upon respondents;

3. effect economy in statistical data collection;

4. eliminate unnecessary duplication of statistical data collection efforts; and

5. achieve better coordination of government statistical activities.

In line with this, the PSA and the LGUs enjoin the public in the selected areas to support the 2022 CBMS by providing the required information.

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.

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.