NSCB Resolution No. 11
Series of 1999

GENERAL PRICING POLICY OF THE
PHILIPPINE STATISTICAL SYSTEM (PSS)

WHEREAS, the goal of the PSS is to provide relevant, timely, accurate and accessible information and services to the public;

WHEREAS, with the increasing demands, the limited resources of the government and the low priority generally accorded to statistical activities, the PSS should help in raising additional government resources to fasttrack development and make products and services more accessible;

WHEREAS, a policy allowing government agencies to sell their products and services at reasonable rates is explicitly provided in the Annual General Appropriations Act;

WHEREAS, Executive Order No. 159 was issued on 23 February 1994 directing government agencies to revise their pricing scheme to allow full cost recovery;

WHEREAS, various pricing schemes have been adopted by the agencies for various types of products and services;

WHEREAS, issues have been raised as to what, when and how much statistical products and services shall be sold;

WHEREAS, to address this issue, the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) formulated the Government Statistics Accessibility Program (GSAP);

WHEREAS, one of the strategies under the GSAP is to develop a standard pricing policy among providers of statistical information and services;

WHEREAS, the NSCB led the development of such a pricing policy in consultation with various statistics-producing agencies;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED that the Executive Board approve the following:

1. The attached General Pricing Policy of the PSS be adopted by the member agencies of the PSS;

2. The PSS agencies may develop their own pricing schemes, consistent with the objectives and policies set in the General Pricing Policy; and

3. As the focal point of the GSAP, the NSCB shall coordinate the continuous updating of such policy.

Approved, this 16th day of June 1999 in Pasig City.

GENERAL PRICING POLICY OF THE PHILIPPINE STATISTICAL SYSTEM (PSS)

I. Legal Bases/Mandate:

• Annual General Appropriations Act- allowing government agencies to sell their products and services at reasonable rates

• Executive Order No. 159 - directing government agencies to revise their pricing scheme to allow full cost recovery

• existing policy of the PSS - to develop a standard pricing policy among providers of statistical information and services. (under NSCB Board Resolution no. 10 dated 29 October 1997 approving the Government Statistics Accessibility Program (GSAP)

II Assumptions:

• The Agency/Unit shall continue to receive government appropriations to cover regular operating expenses.

• A different policy will be adopted once the Agency/Unit becomes a self-liquidating unit.

III. Coverage

• statistical products and services produced and provided by the Agency/Unit

• statistical products of other agency sold thru and by the Agency/Unit

IV. Objectives:

• Overall Objective:
  • to translate into monetary terms the cost and value of statistical products and services
• Other Use of the Pricing Policy:
  • to help the users prioritize their needs

V. General Pricing Policies

• Pricing policies at any given time must contribute to the goal of providing opportunity to various types of customers to acquire and avail of statistical information and services

• Policies and pricing scheme must promote good relationship with partners and customers

• Cost savings due to improved productivity of the office shall be passed on to the customers in terms of reduced prices.

• The prices including the objectives and policies shall be assessed and updated regularly to be consistent with the thrusts of the Philippine Statistical System and to be responsive to market situation. It shall also be flexible and responsive to the changing times and technological advances.

What/When to Charge

• The PSS aims to provide the general public with basic statistical information on the socio-economic situation of the country.

• Complimentary copies shall be provided to government agencies as may be determined by the agency head. However, the extent of information and services that can be provided for free depends on available resources.

How much to charge

• The prices should be able to recover the direct as well as the indirect costs including the developmental and marketing costs. The NSCB shall continue to enhance its systems and processes to improve its

• The PSS shall continue to enhance its systems and processes to improve its productivity and possibly reduce cost.

• The prices should reflect the differences in the value of the different products and services.

• The pick-up price at the Agency central office and regional units shall be the same.

• A standard tag price shall be adopted for each product and these prices shall be made known to the public.

• In selling the products of other agencies, the Agency/Unit shall adopt the same tag price of the other agency.

• A different pricing scheme shall be adopted for foreign subscribers.

• Transactions with information brokers shall be done thru a Contract with the Agency/Unit, ensuring proper acknowledgment of data sources.

Discounts

• In accordance with the above objectives, the Agency/Unit can offer discounts.

• Subsidy shall be provided to students.

• Special discounts shall also be given as an incentive to the Agency partners in information dissemination.

• As a goodwill to customers' patronage, standard discounts can be offered to customers such as:

a) during new product offering
b) in large volume purchases
c) advanced payment of subscription
d) long-term subscription

Agency Pricing Scheme:

• The Agency/Unit shall develop its own pricing scheme, consistent with the above objectives and policies.