Date of Release: June 28, 2023
Reference No.: 2023 – 010

24 June 2023,
Cotabato City.The Philippine Statistics Authority – Regional Statistical Services Office in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PSA-RSSO-BARMM) has successfully conducted its 2nd Level Training on the July 2023 LFS and 2023 FIES Visit 1 held last 19-24 June 2023 at the Jade Hall, EM Manor Hotel and Convention Center, Cotabato city.

The six-day training was spearheaded by the OIC Regional Director Engr. Akan G. Tula and OIC-SOCD Edward Donald F. Eloja. It was facilitated by Ms. Aquessa L. Macud, Senior Statistical Specialist and the regional focal person for the LFS and FIES operations and Mr. Pedro P. Baradi Jr., Statistical Specialist II, the provincial focal counterpart in PSA Basilan. It was participated in by the RSSO-SOCD-BARMM officials, Chief Statistical Specialists of the five Provincial Statistical Offices, provincial focal persons and selected staff who will serve as trainers in the succeeding provincial level training.

Dr. Claire Dennis S. Mapa, the Undersecretary and National Statistician and Civil Registrar General of the Philippine Statistics Authority, emphasized in his message that the result of these surveys will be an important input for this administration in terms of poverty reduction initiatives and it will hold an immense volume of information for government authorities as it provides crucial guidance in several key areas particularly in helping them locate areas with high concentrations of poverty and determine the specific interventions needed thereby, directing the resources and interventions to the areas that require urgent attention and support
RSSO-BARMM Conducts 2nd Level Training on the July 2023 Labor Force Survey (LFS) & 2023 Family Income
and Expenditure Survey (FIES) Visit 1

Meanwhile, RD Tula put emphasis as to why island provinces have been identified as the most economically disadvantaged among all the provinces in the country. RD Tula further urged the participants to systematically and accurately assess the data but also reminded the personnel involved to remain faithful to the actual data in the locality. Regardless of the results, it is crucial to persistently adhere to the genuine conditions and circumstances prevailing in the region.

OIC - SOCD Eloja encouraged everyone to be committed and to strategize work processes due to the simultaneous conduct of listing and survey operations. Fostering a culture of commitment, effective planning, and efficient preparations, the combination of these factors will contribute to the accurate and timely collection of data, ensuring that the surveys fulfill their purpose of effectively informing decision-making and policy formulation initiatives of the government and the private sector.

A total of 1,437 sample households will be visited and interviewed by a total of 404 hired Statistical Researchers (SRs) all over the BARMM region during the 20-day operations. The interview will be conducted using Android tablets through a Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) application.

In line with this, the PSA BARMM encourages the public, especially the sample households, to actively contribute to the success of the survey by participating and providing honest and correct information to the enumerators. The public is assured of the confidentiality of whatever information they will provide as the PSA adheres and commits to the confidentiality of information as stipulated in Section 26 of the Philippine Statistical Act (RA 10625), and in Section 8 of the Data Privacy Act (RA 10173).

ENGR. AKAN G TULA
OIC-Regional Director