NSCB Resolution No. 5
Series of 2010

APPROVING AND ADOPTING
THE PHILIPPINE STANDARD GEOGRAPHIC CODE UPDATES

WHEREAS, the NSCB prescribes uniform standards and classification systems to ensure harmonization and comparability in the generation of official statistics in the country for national and subnational development planning;

WHEREAS, in 1996, the NSCB through the interagency Technical Committee on Statistical Standards and Classifications (TCSSC) and its Technical Working Group on Geographic Classification (TWGGC) developed the Philippine Standard Geographic Code (PSGC) for geographic areas of the country that rationalizes and integrates different existing geographic codes being used by various government agencies;

WHEREAS, the 1996 PSGC was approved and prescribed for adoption by the NSCB Executive Board through Resolution No. 6, Series of 1997 for official use by the concerned government agencies, with regular updating to be done; 

WHEREAS, among the uses of the PSGC are the following: (a) as comprehensive area frame in the conduct of censuses and sample surveys; (b) as guide in regional and subregional development planning; (c) as control list of local government units (LGUs) in granting internal revenue allotment (IRA), establishment of databases, development of geographic information systems (GIS), and updating of maps; and (d) as basis in the conduct of elections and other electoral exercises;

WHEREAS, in view of the continuing changes in the boundaries, names, status and composition of the country’s geographical-political subdivisions at the various levels as provided by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and as discussed in the TWGGC and TCSSC, a quarterly updating of the PSGC is being done by the NSCB to serve better the needs of the planners, policymakers and other users;

WHEREAS, to enhance the usefulness of the PSGC, it is necessary to release immediately the updates of the PSGC and while NSCB Resolution No. 3, Series of 2003 states that the approval of the PSGC updates/revisions shall be done thru a Board referendum in case there is no scheduled Board meeting, the NSCB Technical Staff has recommended that the approval of all updates of the PSGC be done thru a Board referendum to facilitate its release;

WHEREAS, the NSCB as the administrator of the PSGC masterfile disseminates the PSGC updates and database through the NSCB web;

WHEREAS, the latest changes in the country’s geographical-political subdivisions, which are for the first quarter 2010 with the period ending on March 31, 2010, include the conversion of a municipality into a city and the creation of two barangays;  

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, that the Board approve the latest updates of the PSGC as of March 31, 2010 (Annex BR-05- 20100512-01) for official use by all concerned government agencies.

BE IT RESOLVED FURTHER, that the Board approve the recommendation that all updates of the PSGC shall be approved thru a Board referendum, except when there are major issues and revisions that would need to be resolved through discussion of the NSCB Executive Board, hereby amending NSCB Resolution No. 3, Series of 2003.

Approved this 12th day of May 2010, in Pasig City.

Attested by:

ROMULO A. VIROLA
Secretary General