NSCB Resolution No. 1
Series of 2010

APPROVING THE PLANNING AND BUDGETARY THRUSTS OF THE PHILIPPINE STATISTICAL SYSTEM FOR CY 2011

WHEREAS, the overall mission of the Philippine Statistical System (PSS) is to provide adequate, relevant, reliable, timely and accessible statistical information and services to the public;

WHEREAS, there is a need to: (a) continuously improve the PSS to deliver current and emerging needs for quality statistical products and services; and (b) to define a common framework and direction for the PSS in order to attain its goals and objectives;

WHEREAS, the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB), the policy-making and coordinating body on statistical matters in the government, is mandated under Executive Order No. 121 to review budgetary proposals of agencies involving statistical operations and submit its recommendations to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM);

WHEREAS, in the National Budget Memorandum issued by the DBM annually, it is indicated that budget proposals for the conduct of designated statistical activities pursuant to Executive Order No. 352 shall necessitate the endorsement of the NSCB;

WHEREAS, there is a need to define the planning and budgetary thrusts to be adopted by all PSS member agencies in preparing their budget proposals for statistical activities for CY 2011, with key result areas identified to focus on priority targets;

WHEREAS, the Philippine Statistical Development Program (PSDP), which is prepared every six years, sets the directions, strategies and priorities of the PSS, and provides vital information support to the Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP);

WHEREAS, the annual planning and budgetary thrusts are in consonance with the key result areas of the PSDP;

WHEREAS, the PSDP 2011-2016 will be formulated in the second half of 2010, through an interagency Steering Committee and various interagency working groups;

WHEREAS, the planning and budgetary thrusts for CY 2011 have been defined in accordance with the key result areas identified in the PSDP 2005-2010, taking into consideration the priority targets of the PSS for the year through consultation with the various interagency committees;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, that the Board approve the Planning and Budgetary Thrusts for Statistical Activities for CY 2011 by key result area:

KRA 1.    Effective statistical policies and coordination mechanisms to address the statistical development challenges in the PSS

• Formulation, implementation and effective monitoring of statistical policies covering the various key result areas identified herein with special emphasis on ensuring the timeliness, availability and accessibility of statistical information;
• Promulgation of the PSDP 2011-2016;
• Adoption of standard concepts and definitions used in statistical operations, including classification and coding for consistency and comparability;
• Rationalization of surveys/censuses of agencies to ensure cost effectiveness;
• Promoting the improvement in the availability and accessibility of administrative-based statistics (i.e., BIR, BOC, SEC, GSIS, SSS) as critical source of information needed in development planning, policy and decision-making; and
• Strengthening of statistical coordination at the national and subnational levels

KRA 2.   Relevant and good quality statistics and indicators on the country’s socioeconomic development and progress aimed at addressing current, new and emerging information demands of stakeholders towards a better-informed society

• Generation of relevant statistics and information on critical and emerging concerns such as on economic and financial recovery from the global crisis; measures of genuine progress of societies; climate change; MDGs; poverty; children and gender (e.g., women’s unpaid work); hunger, food security and malnutrition; energy; micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs); ICT; governance; security; and other sectors/areas of concern that may affect national development; and
• Continuing improvements in the revised/rebased Philippine System of National Accounts

KRA 3.  Improved quality of administrative reports as official source of statistical data and information in the PSS

• Improvement in the quality of administrative-based statistics in terms of scope and coverage, accuracy, and timeliness
• Development of statistical standards and mechanisms in administrative-based data processing to generate more relevant, useful and timely data at minimum cost; and
• Assessment of administrative-based data and implementation of the Administrative Records Review and Clearance System

KRA 4. Improved availability, dissemination and communication, advocacy, and use of statistics and maximized use of information technology in statistical processes

• Extensive/wider dissemination and use of the results of surveys/census and administrative-based data (e.g., on civil registration, foreign trade, building permits, overseas employment, etc.) at the national and subnational levels;
• Intensive monitoring of agencies’ adoption of the GSAP, particularly in ensuring data are made available in a timely and efficient manner;
• Improvement in the data archiving system and extensive promotion of the generation of metadata in the PSS;
• Promotion and monitoring of the implementation of pricing policies in the PSS;
• Extensive promotion of advocacy programs and regular conduct of users’ fora to encourage wider support and appreciation of statistics;
• Strengthening of linkage, collaboration and partnership with stakeholders (e.g., media) to better disseminate and communicate statistics;
• Enhancement of data sharing between and among government agencies and with the international community, including the adoption of statistical data and metadata exchange (SDMX) guidelines and technologies;
• Advocating the inclusion of a statistics section in government websites for improved accessibility of statistical inform ation; and
• Effective use of ICT and acceleration of technological development in the area of data management and data dissemination/communication.

KRA 5. Improved methodology and framework and conduct of operations of censuses/ surveys to generate relevant, timely, reliable, and accessible statistical information for effective governance

• Improvement in establishment surveys to better capture changes and developments in the Philippine economy, including improvements in survey design;
• Development, improvement and conduct of enterprise surveys to generate relevant information on economic development in the Philippines;
• Improvement in the master sample design for households;
• Development of new and updating of existing survey methodologies and frameworks to produce responsive statistics that address new and emerging national concerns and consistent with international practices; and
• Intensify statistical research and development activities towards improved censuses and surveys for households, establishments, and enterprises

KRA 6.  Developed, enhanced and strengthened institutional capacity of PSS agencies to include human, physical, and other resources

• Establishing new and strengthening of existing statistical units, including the creation of statistical positions at the national and local governments, focusing on specific departments or agencies at points of time in the planning period;
• Improving the statistical capacity of non-statistical agencies in the PSS;
• Conduct of more training programs for those involved in statistics in the LGUs;
• Conduct of more training programs on small area statistics, regional and provincial product accounts, and other pertinent areas;
• Strengthening of collaboration with international statistical training institutions to increase training opportunities for statistical personnel in the PSS; and
• Enhancing the physical resources in the PSS such as computer resources

KRA 7.  Strong and effective subnational statistical system

• Enhancing the coordination mechanisms at the subnational level;
• Strengthening statistical frameworks at the subnational level;
• Generation of more locally-disaggregated data; and
• Strengthening collaboration, such as on cost-sharing mechanisms, among national and local governments, private sector, academe, and civil society in the generation, dissemination, communication, and utilization of subnational statistics

KRA 8. Consistency of the PSS with internationally-recognized statistical principles, declarations and best practices

• Adherence to/adoption of resolutions and agreements on statistics made in the United Nations Statistical Commission, Committee on Statistics of the UNESCAP, and ASEAN Heads of Statistical Offices Meeting (AHSOM);
• Adoption of the Istanbul Declaration on the Measurement of Progress of Societies¹, the Dakar Declaration on the Development of Statistics² and other similar international agreements;
• Adoption and harmonization of Philippine concepts, classifications, frameworks and methodologies with those at the international level;
• Active participation in international statistical committee/commission meetings, and hosting of international fora/events on statistics;
• Strengthening international cooperation of the PSS with other countries in the Asia-Pacific region to share experiences, practices and expertise on statistics; and
• Adoption and use of relevant international statistical best practices

BE IT RESOLVED FURTHER, that:

1. all PSS member agencies be encouraged to:
   
   1. coordinate with the DBM on the provision of a separate line item for statistical activities;
   2. consider the relevant budgetary thrusts in their respective Organizational Performance Indicators Framework (OPIF); and
   3. incorporate in their agency budget proposals for CY 2011 the requirements to achieve the above thrusts following the guidelines to be issued by the NSCB, and to submit the budget proposals to the NSCB for endorsement to the DBM.
2. the NSCB Technical Staff:
   
   1. evaluate the budget proposals and, in consultation with the agencies concerned, submit its recommendations to the NSCB Executive Board; and
   2. upon approval of the Board, endorse the PSS budget to the DBM, copy furnished the agencies.
3. the Board:
   1. approve the creation of a Steering Committee, ensuring representation from key sectors, to provide guidance and directions for the formulation of the PSDP 2011-2016; and
   2. enjoin the participation of the concerned agencies and institutions to assist in the formulation of the PSDP 2011-2016.

Approved this 10th day of February 2010, in Pasig City.

Attested by:

ROMULO A. VIROLA
Secretary General