The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) approved the conduct of the survey on the Role of Social Networks in Accessing and Utilizing Weather and Climate Information: The Case of Upland Farming Communities on 24 September 2019.

The survey will be conducted by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) in cooperation with Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) and Benguet State University (BSU).

Results of the survey will aid weather and climate information producers and agricultural extension workers in designing information dissemination policy to efficiently distribute weather and climate information as a vital tool in augmenting smallholder farmer’s decision-making in upland farming communities.

Specifically, the survey aims to: collect data on kinship, friendship and information networks of sitios in Atok, Benguet to better understand how information on weather and climate is spread and utilized throughout the community; and collect economic and demographic data to correlate with a household’s position in the network.

The data items to be collected in the survey include the following:

• kinship and friendship ties
• information networks (e.g. weather and climate information networks)
• knowledge, awareness and use of weather and climate information
• demographic and economic characteristics (e.g. education, occupation, etc.)
• farming activities and willingness to pay for weather and climate information
• adaption strategies in case of super typhoon

A total of 315 households from three upland communities in the sitios of Atok, Benguet will be interviewed for the survey and will utilize a total budget of PHP 935,713.40 for personal services, maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) such as travelling expenses, supplies, printing expenses, and labor and wages.

Results of the survey are expected to be released in June 2020.

The survey 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:

• 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 the selected households in Atok, Benguet to support the said survey.

For further information on SSRCS, please contact the Statistical Standards Division of the Standards Service with telephone numbers
(02) 376-1928 and(02) 376-1931, 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.