Organized by the Philippine Statistical System C A L E N D A R O F A C T I V I T I E S 25th National Statistics Month – Calendar of Activities Copyright © Philippine Statistics Authority Published by Philippine Statistics Authority Ground, 2nd and 5th Floors, Midland Buendia Building, 403 Senator Gil J. Puyat Avenue (formerly Buendia Avenue), Makati City, 1200 PHILIPPINES www.psa.gov.ph www.nscb.gov.ph East Avenue Office 3rd Floor NSO-CVEA Building East Avenue, Diliman Quezon City, 1101 Telephone Nos.: (632) 462-6600 loc 805 Sta. Mesa Office Solicarel Building Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard Sta. Mesa, Manila 1016 Telephone Nos.: (632) 716-0807 / 713-7074 Makati Office Ground, 2nd and 5th Floors, Midland Buendia Building, 403 Senator Gil J. Puyat Avenue (formerly Buendia Avenue), Makati City 1200 Telephone Nos.: (632) 897-2171; (632) 896-4665 Quezon Avenue Office Ben-Lor Building, 1184 Quezon Avenue, Quezon City Telephone Nos.: (632) 371-2050 Intramuros Office 3/F DOLE Building, Gen. Luna St., Intramuros, Manila 1002 Telephone Nos.: (632)527-3000 loc. 315 CONTENTS Proclamation No. 647 Inside front cover Contents Theme Explanation i Messages His Excellency President Benigno S. Aquino III ii Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan iii National Statistician Lisa Grace S. Bersales iv BSP Governor Amando M. Tetangco, Jr. v The National Statistics Month in Retrospect NSM - 1 Highlights of the Observance of the 24th National Statistics Month NSM - 9 Map of the Republic of the Philippines NSM -19 Number of Provinces, Cities, Municipalities NSM -20 and Barangays 25th NSM Opening Ceremony Program of Activities NSM-22 Opening Remarks of NS Lisa Grace S. Bersales NSM-23 Keynote Speech of Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan NSM-25 25th NSM Calendar of Activities NSM-28 NCR – National Capital Region CAR – Cordillera Administrative Region Region I – Ilocos Region Region II – Cagayan Valley Region III – Central Luzon Region IV-A – CALABARZON Region IV-B – MIMAROPA Region V – Bicol Region Region VI – Western Visayas Region VII – Central Visayas Region VIII – Eastern Visayas Region IX – Zamboanga Peninsula Region X – Northern Mindanao Region XI – Davao Region Region XII – SOCCSKSARGEN Region XIII –Caraga ARMM – Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Annexes The Philippine Statistical System Annex - 1-2 25th NSM Steering Committee and Sub-Committees Annex - 3-4 25th NSM Host Agencies Annex - 4 25th NSM Secretariat Annex - 4 24th NSM Awards Evaluation Team Annex - 4 5th NSM Media Awards Board of Judges and Sponsors Annex - 4 The NSM Awards Annex - 5-9 24th NSM Donors and Sponsors Annex - 10 Acronyms and Abbreviations Acknowledgement STATMAN Inside back cover 25th National Statistics Month Theme: NSM at 25 and Beyond: Solid and Responsive Philippine Statistical System in Support of Globalization and Regional Economic Integration Ang NSM sa Ika-25 Taon at Higit: Matatag at Nakatutugong Sistemang Pang-estadistika ng Pilipinas bilang Pagtaguyod sa Globalisasyon at Integrasyong Pang-ekonomiya ng Rehiyon The country is currently confronted with emerging concerns as reflected in the Midterm Update of the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) for 2011-2016, the challenges in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), as well as the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Thus, official statistics that meet the standards of quality and comparability has never been more important for national development planners and decision-makers to assess our performance vis-à-vis our targets and where our nation stands with others. In the Southeast Asian region, the Philippine Statistical System (PSS) has gained recognition in the statistical community for its long-standing commitment of public service through its efforts to innovate and to enhance the reliability of statistics despite resource constraints. With the country’s participation in the incipient ASEAN regional economic integration by 2015, the PSS – led by the newly-established Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) – must thus build stronger partnerships with its stakeholders and reach greater heights in improving the integrity and objectivity in statistical data production, compilation and communication mechanisms. This will enable the PSS to better represent the status of the nation and accordingly respond to the monitoring needs of the Philippine government and the private sector. Thus, for the 25th year celebration of the National Statistics Month this October 2014, the theme focuses on the PSA’s vision of a solid and responsive PSS that meets the data and information needs of the Filipino society facing both opportunities and issues brought by globalization and regional economic integration. With a cohesive direction from the PSA, the continuing efforts of the PSS shall be better harmonized and streamlined to exemplify efficiency in the management and use of public resources, dedication and improved capacity of the statistical workforce enough to adapt to the evolving information demands of the globalizing economy. The theme also highlights the collective role of the PSS in providing, managing and communicating objective statistics that will ultimately guide Filipinos towards reaping the optimal benefits from regional integration. i MALACAÑAN PALACE MANILA ii Republic of the Philippines National Economic and Development Authority MESSAGE The onset of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Economic Community (AEC) brings the country to a new milieu wherein economic growth and national prosperity will be influenced by free movement of goods, services, investments, labor and capital flow within the region. This incipient integration presents both opportunities and challenges to our country. Uncertainties in light with our country’s increased openness to trade and participation in information and cultural exchange behoove us to be vigilant about the changes in key development indicators. The country’s statistical system plays a very important role in providing useful information to enable us to keenly track our national progress vis-à-vis the performance of our neighbors. Keeping track of developments within and outside the country will greatly help us make appropriate and timely interventions and adjustments to realize the opportunities and to deal with the challenges that an integrated Southeast Asia brings. As Chairperson of the Philippine Statistics Authority and Secretary of Socioeconomic Planning, I wish to congratulate the Philippine Statistical System for organizing the 25th National Statistics Month with its "NSM at 25 and Beyond: Solid and Responsive Philippine Statistical System in Support of Globalization and Regional Economic Integration.” I would like to thank the men and women of the PSS who unwaveringly collect, process, interpret, disseminate and ensure the credibility of official statistical information. The kind of public service you provide is certainly valuable. I am confident that with sound, relevant and timely statistics we will achieve our national development goals within the larger context of an integrated region. Mabuhay tayong lahat! ARSENIO M. BALISACAN, PhD Economic Planning Secretary iii Republic of the Philippines Philippine statistics authority MESSAGE October is always an exciting month for the Philippine Statistical System. This year, we celebrate a milestone with the first founding anniversary of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and the 25th year of the National Statistics Month (NSM). The year’s theme is "NSM at 25 and Beyond: Solid and Responsive Philippine Statistical System in Support of Globalization and Regional Economic Integration.” This reflects my vision for the PSA to be solid and responsive amidst the changing landscape of the global and regional economy. The establishment of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Economic Community (AEC) next year will usher a new economic era for the country. This consequently provides an impetus for us, official statisticians, to be responsive and proactive in meeting the statistical demands of an interlinked financial system and an integrated production and market base within the region. Statistical information is increasingly occupying the center stage of policymaking as it provides better understanding of the socioeconomic issues and challenges that confront our country. While we remain steadfast in our commitment to provide timely, accurate and relevant statistics needed for our national development strategies and policies, we need to supply the emerging statistical requirements for this regional integration process not only to ensure its success but more importantly to bring its benefits to our people. On behalf of the 25th NSM Steering Committee and the PSA, I am extending our deepest gratitude to all our partners through the years for your unwavering support to the annual celebration of the NSM. Let us build together a solid and responsive statistical system for a better and prosperous Philippines and Southeast Asia. Mabuhay! LISA GRACE S. BERSALES, PhD National Statistician Philippine Statistics Authority iv BANGKO SENTRAL NG PILIPINAS MESSAGE v © Philippine Statistics Authority The National Statistics Month In Retrospect NSM - 1 The National Statistics Month In Retrospect The National Statistics Month (NSM) was first observed in 1990 pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 647 signed by then President Corazon C. Aquino on September 20, 1990, Declaring the Month of October Every Year as the National Statistics Month. It was a significant milestone in the history of the Philippine