09 August 2022 – Cebu City. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) conducted the Regional Dissemination Forum on the Philippine Statistical Development Program (PSDP) 2018-2023 Update in Visayas Cluster on 09 August 2022 at the Golden Prince Hotel, Cebu City. The forum was attended by 128 participants (80 online and 48 on-site) representing the member agencies of the Regional Statistics Committees, various regional line agencies, academe, local government units, and the media.
The message of PSA Undersecretary Dennis S. Mapa, National Statistician and Civil Registrar General, underscored the inclusion of statistical development programs (SDPs) to strengthen the local statistical system, and to generate more locally-disaggregated data for more informed decisions in support of countryside development.
Meanwhile, the message from Undersecretary Rosemarie G. Edillon from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) highlighted that statistics should be produced and communicated in such a way that it will be understood by everyone and will stimulate action from policymakers. She also emphasized the need for more disaggregated data and called for stronger collaboration in providing timely, relevant, and reliable statistics.
The highlights of the PSDP 2018-2023 Update which included the formulation process, the accomplishments from 2018 to 2021, and the updated SDPs were presented by OIC-Assistant National Statistician Severa B. De Costo in the forum.
Cebu City Councilor Donaldo C. Hontiveros delivered the keynote message on behalf of Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama. He emphasized that “Numbers don’t lie.” He mentioned, however, that being equipped with numbers does not guarantee success unless this is coupled with effort, good planning, and monitoring. He also expressed his support to the national government by providing accurate statistical information from the local level. Ms. Mae R. Almonte of PSA-Region VIII presented the accomplished SDPs of Regions VI, VII, and VIII for 2018-2022 as well as the major SDPs for the remaining program period.
The panel discussion featured OIC-Regional Director (RD) Arecio A. Casing of NEDA-Region VI, Mr. Niel Andrew U. Menjares of NEDA-Region VII, Assistant Professor Jacque Bon-Isaac Aboy of UP Cebu, and RD Mylene C. Rosales of NEDA-Region VIII, with former Deputy National Statistician Romeo S. Recide as moderator. The panelists emphasized the importance of statistics in planning, policymaking, and research. For the successor RSDP, the panelists recommended to prioritize data availability to generate more research outputs, tap the academe in data gathering, provide support in updating economic indicators through one databank, and ensure accuracy, timeliness and completeness of data, among others.
PSA OIC-Deputy National Statistician Minerva Eloisa P. Esquivias concluded the event with a call on everyone to continually exert efforts for the successful implementation of the PSDP and RSDP 2018-2023 Update.
- Censuses and Technical Coordination Office
