About the CBMS

By virtue of R.A. 11315, otherwise known as the “Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) Act” signed into law on 17 April 2019, the PSA is mandated to implement the CBMS through the Community-Based Statistics Service of the Censuses and Technical Coordination Office.

What is CBMS?

According to the law, the CBMS is an organized technology-based system of collecting, processing, and validating necessary disaggregated data that may be used for local planning, program implementation, and impact monitoring while empowering communities to participate in the process. It involves generation of data at the local level which serves as a basis in targeting households for government programs geared towards poverty alleviation and economic development.

As a statistical activity, the CBMS entails a census of households undertaken by the local government units (LGUs) with the participation of the community using accelerated poverty profiling systems in the data. Data that will be generated by the CBMS are the compendium of localized facts, figures, and maps on the different dimensions of poverty such as health, education, basic services, and employment, among others.

What are the objectives of the CBMS?

Local-level: An economic and social tool for use in the formulation and implementation of poverty alleviation and development programs that are specific, targeted, and responsive to the basic needs of each sector of the community.

National-level: For use of national government agencies in generating updated and disaggregated data necessary in targeting beneficiaries.

Legal Basis

The Community-Based Monitoring System Act

The Republic Act No. 11315, An Act Establishing A Community-Based Monitoring System and Appropriating Funds Therefore, was signed into law on 17 April 2019 by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. The law enables the Philippines’ adoption of a community-based monitoring system which generates updated disaggregated data necessary in targeting beneficiaries, conducting more comprehensive poverty analysis and needs prioritization, designing appropriate policies and interventions and monitoring impact over time.

Link: RA 11315

The CBMS Act Implementing Rules and Regulations

To properly and effectively carry out the provisions of Republic Act No. 11315, the PSA, pursuant to Section 15 of the said Act, issued, adopted, prescribed, and promulgated the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Act on 20 May 2020. The IRR provides details on the functions of the PSA, the LGUs and its partners in implementing the CBMS Act. The IRR also enumerates the role of the CBMS Network and other national government agencies during the transition period of one (1) year from the effectivity of the IRR or for such period as may be determined by the PSA.

Link: IRR