Water collection, treatment and supply industry group dominated in terms of number of establishments

The 2021 Annual Survey of Philippine Business and Industry (ASPBI) final results showed that a total of 1,142 establishments in the formal sector of the economy were engaged in water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities. This represents a 3.6 percent increase from the 1,102 establishments reported in 2020. (Tables A and 1)

Among industry groups, water collection, treatment and supply recorded the highest number of 989 establishments (86.6%). Materials recovery ranked second with 51 establishments (4.5%). On the other hand, remediation activities and other waste management services recorded the least number of seven establishments (0.6%). (Figure 1 and Table 1)

Among regions, CALABARZON reported the highest number of 198 establishments (17.3%). Central Luzon and Central Visayas ranked second and third with 182 establishments (15.9%) and 131 establishments (11.5%), respectively. On the other hand, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) recorded the lowest count of six establishments (0.5%). (Table 3)

Water collection, treatment and supply industry group employed the highest number of workers

The section’s total employment in 2021 was estimated at 40,717 workers, indicating an increase of 6.2 percent from the 38,333 workers in 2020. Of the total employment in 2021, 40,285 workers (98.9%) were paid employees, while the remaining were working owners and unpaid workers. (Tables A and 1)

By industry group, water collection, treatment and supply, which recorded the highest number of establishments, was also the top industry in terms of number of workers in 2021. It employed a total of 35,780 workers or 87.9 percent of the total employment for the section. On the other hand, remediation activities and other waste management services had the lowest number of 90 workers (0.2%). (Figure 2 and Table 1)

By region, CALABARZON employed the highest number of 6,771 workers or 16.6 percent of the total for the section. This was followed by Central Luzon with 5,667 workers (13.9%) and National Capital Region (NCR) with 5,444 workers (13.4%). (Table 3)

The section recorded an average employment of 36 workers per establishment in 2021. This represents an increase of 2.9 percent from the reported 35 workers per establishment in 2020. (Tables A and 2)

Waste collection posted the highest average employment of 41 workers per establishment among industry groups, followed by waste treatment and disposal with an average employment of 38 workers per establishment. (Table 2)

Meanwhile, among regions, NCR recorded the highest average employment of 77 workers per establishment. BARMM followed with 71 workers per establishment. (Table 4)

Water collection, treatment and supply industry group paid the highest average annual compensation

The total compensation paid to employees of the section in 2021 amounted to PhP 16.57 billion, which translates to an average annual compensation of PhP 411.43 thousand per paid employee. This shows a decline of -1.1 percent from the recorded average annual compensation of PhP 416.19 thousand per paid employee in 2020. (Tables A, 1, and 2)

Among industry groups, water collection, treatment and supply paid the highest average annual compensation of PhP 430.98 thousand per paid employee in 2021. It was also the only industry group that paid average annual compensation higher than the national figure. Sewerage and waste treatment and disposal placed second and third with average annual compensation per paid employee of PhP 321.72 thousand and PhP 321.40 thousand, respectively. On the other hand, remediation activities and other waste management services paid the lowest at PhP 208.56 thousand per paid employee. (Figure 3 and Table 2)

At the regional level, employees in NCR received the highest average annual pay of PhP 926.55 thousand per paid employee. This was  followed by employees in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and BARMM with average annual compensation per paid employee of PhP 470.48 thousand and PhP 440.48 thousand, respectively. Meanwhile, employees in Davao Region received the lowest average annual compensation of PhP 269.47 thousand per paid employee. (Table 4)

Water collection, treatment and supply industry group contributed the highest share to the total revenue and total expense

In 2021, the total revenue generated by the section reached PhP 122.92 billion, indicating an increase of 13.2 percent from the PhP 108.62 billion reported revenue in 2020. Meanwhile, the total expense incurred by the section in 2021 reached PhP 102.90 billion, which shows an increase of 19.6 percent from the PhP 86.02 billion total expense in 2020. (Tables A and 1)

Among industry groups, water collection, treatment and supply accounted for the largest share to the total revenue generated by the section in 2021, which amounted to PhP 111.91 billion (91.0%). On the other hand, remediation activities and other waste management services generated the lowest revenue of PhP 0.12 billion (0.1%).

In terms of incurred total expense in 2021, water collection, treatment and supply also spent the highest among industry groups with PhP 93.93 billion (91.3%). In contrast, remediation activities and other waste management services industry group spent the lowest total expense of PhP 0.11 billion (0.1%). (Figure 4 and Table 1)

At the regional level, NCR contributed PhP 69.78 billion or more than half (56.8%) of the section’s total revenue. Central Luzon and CALABARZON placed second and third with total revenue of PhP 14.01 billion (11.4%) and PhP 12.50 billion (10.2%), respectively.

The top three regions in terms of revenue were also the top regions in terms of incurred total expense, with combined shares of PhP 79.47 billion or 77.2 percent of the total. NCR spent PhP 57.82 billion (56.2%), followed by Central Luzon with PhP 11.49 billion (11.2%), and CALABARZON with PhP 10.16 billion (9.9%). (Table 3)

Materials recovery industry group recorded the highest return

The revenue per expense ratio for the section was recorded at 1.19 in 2021. This ratio indicates that for every peso spent, the section generated a corresponding revenue of PhP 1.19. Compared with the revenue per peso expense ratio of 1.26 in 2020, the revenue per expense ratio in 2021 recorded a decrease of -5.6 percent. (Tables A and 2)

Among industry groups, materials recovery recorded the highest revenue per expense ratio at 1.33. On the other hand, waste treatment and disposal recorded the lowest return with revenue per expense ratio of 1.13. (Table 2)

Among regions, Ilocos Region registered the highest return with revenue per peso expense ratio of 1.44. This was followed by Eastern Visayas and CALABARZON with revenue per peso expense ratio of 1.26 and 1.23, respectively. (Table 4)

DIVINA GRACIA L. DEL PRADO, PhD 
Assistant Secretary 
Deputy National Statistician 
Sectoral Statistics Office

TECHNICAL NOTES 
2021 Annual Survey of Philippine Business and Industry

I. Introduction

I.1. Background of the Survey

The Annual Survey of Philippine Business and Industry (ASPBI), one of the designated statistical activities of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), generates essential statistics for economic planning and analysis. It is specifically designed to collect and generate information on the levels, structure, performance, and trends of economic activities of the formal sector of the country’s economy.

The 2021 ASPBI is the 49th in the series of annual surveys of establishments in the country. It was conducted nationwide in April 2022 with 2021 as reference period. In this round of the ASPBI, the 2021 Survey on Information and Communications Technology (SICT) is a rider to this survey.

The conduct of the 2021 ASPBI is authorized under Republic Act No. 10625, known as the Philippine Statistical Act of 2013, which mandates the PSA to collect, compile, analyze, and publish statistical information relating to the country’s economic condition.

I.2. Objectives

The 2021 ASPBI aims to collect and generate information on the levels, structure, performance, and trends of economic activities of the formal sector of the economy for the year 2021.

Specifically, the 2021 ASPBI aims to:

1. collect and generate detailed information on employment, revenue, expense, inventories, tangible fixed assets, intangible assets, and total assets of the establishments; 
2. generate estimates for other economic indicators such as value added, average compensation, and other indicators which are necessary to evaluate the performance of industries at the national and regional levels; 
3. generate statistics for micro, small, and medium establishments (MSME) where identification of MSME is based on total employment; and 
4. gather pertinent information for the updating of the sampling frame of establishment-based surveys.

I.3. Historical Information on the Survey

Annual surveys are usually conducted a year after the reference year. Except for the survey conducted in 2002, the year in the survey title refers to the reference year.

The following are the annual surveys conducted:

1. 1956 Annual Survey of Manufactures (ASM) – First annual survey of establishments undertaken since the Bureau of Census and Statistics (BCS) was established in 1940. It was conducted jointly by the National Economic Council (now the National Economic and Development Authority or NEDA) and the BCS with technical assistance provided by the International Cooperation Administration (ICA) of the United States (US). The ICA is the predecessor of the now US Agency for International Development (USAID). 
2. 1957 ASM – This was also conducted jointly by NEDA and BCS. 
3. 1958 ASM – This survey was integrated as a regular activity of the BCS. 
4. 1959, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, and 1966 ASM – Annual Surveys of Manufactures were conducted for these years. 
5. 1965 Annual Survey of Wholesale and Retail Trade (ASWRT) was conducted for the City of Manila only. The 1966 ASWRT was expanded to cover both the City of Manila and suburbs, but there were no available publications. 
6. 1968 and 1969 – The ASM and the ASWRT were conducted.        
7. The 1968 ASWRT was the start of the annual series for wholesale and retail trade at the national level. 
8. 1970 and 1971 Annual Survey of Establishments (ASE) – The scope of the annual survey was expanded to include the business, utilities, and services sectors, aside from manufacturing, and wholesale and retail trade. 
9. 1973 and 1974 ASE – The coverage of the 1971 ASE was expanded to include Mining and Quarrying; Construction; and Transportation, Communication and Storage; Electricity, Gas, and Water; Financing; Insurance; Real Estate and Business Services were included for the first time in the 1974 ASE. 
10. 1976 ASE – The annual survey was conducted for all sectors, which was also the start of the Annual Surveys of Agriculture, Forestry and Hunting, and Fishing. 
11. 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1985,1986, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993 and 1995 – Annual surveys for all sectors were conducted for these years. 
12. 1996 and 1997 ASE – Only one survey was conducted for all sectors to collect data for two years, 1996 and 1997. 
13. 1998 ASE – Annual survey was conducted for all sectors. 
14. 2000 – No annual survey was conducted for this reference year. 
15. 2001 – The title of the survey for this reference year was renamed as 2002 Annual Survey of Philippine Business and Industry (ASPBI). This was based on NSCB Resolution No.3 Series of 2000 which approved the change in the title of Census of Establishments to 2000 Census of Philippine Business and Industry (CPBI) and changed the title to the year when the census was undertaken. Thus, the title of the ASE was changed accordingly to ASPBI. 
16. 2002 – No annual survey was undertaken for this reference year. 
17. 2003 ASPBI – Starting with the 2003 ASPBI, the year in the survey title referred again to the reference year. The survey was conducted in 2004. 
18. 2004 – No annual survey was undertaken for this reference year. 
19. 2005 ASPBI – An annual survey was conducted in 2006 instead of the originally planned 2005 Census of Philippine Business and Industry. 
20. 2007 and 2011 – No annual survey was undertaken for these reference years. 
21. 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2021 ASPBI – The surveys were conducted for these reference years.

An economic census of establishments was undertaken for reference years 1903, 1918, 1939, 1948, 1961, 1967, 1972, 1975, 1978, 1983, 1988, 1994, 1999, 2006, 2012, and 2018. Except for 1999, the title of the census refers to the year the census was conducted. For these years, no annual surveys were undertaken.

I.4. Scope and Coverage

The 2021 ASPBI covered establishments engaged in 18 sections classified according to the 2009 Philippine Standard Industrial Classification (PSIC), namely:

1. Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing (A) 
2. Mining and Quarrying (B) 
3. Manufacturing (C) 
4. Electricity, Gas, Steam, and Air Conditioning Supply (D) 
5. Water Supply; Sewerage, Waste Management, and Remediation Activities (E) 
6. Construction (F) 
7. Wholesale and Retail Trade; Repair of Motor Vehicles and Motorcycles (G) 
8. Transportation and Storage (H) 
9. Accommodation and Food Service Activities (I) 
10. Information and Communication (J) 
11. Financial and Insurance Activities (K) 
12. Real Estate Activities (L) 
13. Professional, Scientific, and Technical Activities (M) 
14. Administrative and Support Service Activities (N) 
15. Education (P) 
16. Human Health and Social Work Activities (Q) 
17. Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (R) 
18. Other Service Activities (S)

The survey was confined to the formal sector of the economy, which consists of the following:

1. Corporations and partnership, regardless of employment size; 
2. Cooperatives and foundations, regardless of employment size; 
3. Single proprietorships with branches, regardless of employment size; and 
4. Single proprietorship with no branches but with total employment (TE) of 10 and over.

Hence, the 2021 ASPBI covered all establishments regardless of employment size, except those establishments with:

1. Legal Organization of single proprietorship (LO=1), 
2. Economic Organization of single establishment (EO=1), and 
3. TE of less than 10.

II. Data Collection and Processing

II.1. Data Collection

The survey was conducted nationwide in 2022 with 2021 as the reference period, except for employment where the reference period is as of 15 November 2021.

Distribution and collection of 2021 ASPBI questionnaires were done according to a timetable set. Distribution was done in April 2022 through personal visits by PSA field staff to the sample establishments located in the provinces and cities nationwide. The collection of accomplished questionnaires started one week after distribution.

II.2. Survey Instruments

The 2021 ASPBI utilized seven forms of questionnaires which captured data of sample establishments engaged in the 18 sections of the economy as defined in the 2009 PSIC. The seven forms of questionnaires are presented in the table below:

Each form of the survey questionnaire is available in three options. These are the following:

1. online questionnaire which can be accessed at https://aspbi.psa.gov.ph; 
2. electronic copy of the questionnaire, either in portable document format (.pdf) or Excel (.xlsx) file format; and 
3. printed copy of the self-administered questionnaire.

The sample establishment can choose from these options in recording the information for the data items in the survey questionnaire.

II.3. Data Items

The survey collected data on employment, revenue, expense, sales from e-commerce transactions, capital expenditure, book value of fixed tangible and intangible assets, average capacity utilization rate, and inventory.

II.4. Data Processing

To ensure quality of survey reports, several levels of validation following guidelines set were done during the processing phase of the survey operation.

Computer systems were also developed and used to facilitate the smooth conduct and monitoring of the survey operation. These were the Monitoring and Tracking System (MTS) and the Establishment Data Management System (EDMS) which are online systems. The MTS was used to monitor the real-time progress of the survey operation, which included distribution, collection, transmittal, manual processing, and data processing of questionnaires, among others. On the other hand, the EDMS was used in the processing of data and tabulation of survey results.

III. Methodology

III.1. Sampling Frame

The sampling frame for the 2021 ASPBI was extracted from the preliminary 2021 List of Establishments (LE) updated as of 24 January 2022. This frame was used to draw the sample establishments for the survey. The preliminary 2021 LE showed that there were  1,079,093 establishments that were in operation in the country of which 349,071 establishments comprised the sampling frame or the establishments that are within the scope and coverage of the 2021 ASPBI.

III.2. Sample Selection Procedure

The 2021 ASPBI uses a stratified systematic sampling design with 3-digit or 5-digit PSIC as the first stratification variable, depending on the section and total employment, which is classified into Micro, Small, Medium establishments (MSME), as the second stratification variable.

Stratified systematic sampling is a process of dividing the population into homogeneous groups, called strata, and then selecting independent samples in each stratum systematically. This method ensures that all important subgroups of the population are represented in the sample and increases the precision of “overall” survey estimates.

Domain

The geographic domain of the 2021 ASPBI is the region. The industry domain/stratum is a 3-digit or 5-digit industry classification, and the employment domain/stratum is the MSME classification.

Unit of Enumeration

The unit of enumeration for the 2021 ASPBI is the establishment.

III.3. Estimation Procedure

III.3.1. Weights Computation

Base Weight

The base weight is the inverse of the probability of selection.  For the ASPBI, the base weight for each domain is given by:

Adjustment Factor

To take into account the non-responding sample establishments, the adjustment factor by region and industry section is as follows:

Final Weight

The final weight is the product of the base weight and adjustment factor.  That is,

III.3.2. Estimation of Total

Total by Industry-Employment Stratum (h)

The estimator for the total of a characteristic in each industry-employment stratum (h) in a region (geographic domain) is given by:

Total by Industry Stratum per Region

The estimator for the total of a characteristic in each industry stratum in a region is given by:

Total by Employment Stratum per Region

The estimator for the total of a characteristic in each employment stratum for the regional domain is given by:

Total by Geographic Domain

The estimator for the total of a characteristic in each geographic domain is given by:

Total by Industry Stratum (National)

The estimator for the national total of a characteristic in each industry domain/stratum is given by:

Total by Employment Stratum (National)

The estimator for the national total of a characteristic in each employment domain/stratum is given by:

III.4. Response Rate

Response rate for all Water Supply; Sewerage, Waste Management and Remediation Activities section was 96.1 percent (766 out of 797 establishments). This included receipts of "good" questionnaires, partially accomplished questionnaires, and reports of closed, moved out, or out-of-scope establishments. 

Of the total responses, 60 establishments or 7.8 percent responded online.

Reports of establishments which were found to be duplicate of another establishment, out-of-scope and out of business in 2021 were not included in the generation of statistical tables.

IV. Concepts and Definitions of Terms

An establishment is defined as an economic unit under a single ownership or control which engages in one or predominantly one kind of economic activity at a single fixed location.

An establishment is categorized by its economic organization, legal organization, industrial classification, employment size, and geographic location.

Economic Organization refers to the organizational structure or role of the establishment in the organization. An establishment may be a single establishment, branch, establishment, and main office with branches elsewhere, main office only, or an ancillary unit other than the main office.

Legal Organization refers to the legal form of the economic entity which owns the establishment. An establishment may be a single proprietorship, partnership, government corporation, stock corporation, non-stock corporation, or cooperative.

Industrial classification of an economic unit was determined by the activity from which it derives its major income or revenue.  The 2009 PSIC which was approved for adoption by government agencies and instrumentalities through PSA Resolution No. 01 Series of 2017-158 signed on 14 February 2017, was utilized to classify economic units according to their economic activities.

Size of an establishment is determined by its total employment as of the time of visit during the latest Updating of the List of Establishments.

Total Employment (TE) refers to the total number of persons who work in or for the establishment. This includes paid employees, working owners, unpaid workers, and all employees who work full-time or part-time including seasonal workers. Also included are persons on short-term leave such as those on sick, vacation or annual leaves, and on strike.

Geographic Classification refers to the grouping of establishments by geographic area using the Philippine Standard Geographic Code (PSGC) classification. The PSGC contains the latest updates on the official number of regions, provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays in the Philippines. The PSGC as of 31 December 2020 was used for the 2021 ASPBI.

Compensation is the sum of salaries and wages, separation/retirement/terminal pay, gratuities, and payments made by the employer on behalf of the employees such as contribution to SSS/GSIS, ECC, PhilHealth, Pag-ibig, etc.

Expense is the cost incurred by the establishment during the year whether paid or payable. This is treated on a consumed basis. Valuation is at purchaser price including taxes and other charges, net of rebates, returns, and allowances. Goods and services received by the establishment from other establishments of the same enterprise are valued as though purchased.

Paid employees are all persons working in the establishment and receiving pay, as well as those working away from the establishment paid by and under the control of the establishment. Included are all employees on sick leave, paid vacation, or holiday. Excluded are consultants, home workers, receiving pure commissions only, and workers on indefinite leave.

Revenue is the cash received and receivables for goods/products and  by-products sold and services rendered. Valuation is at producer prices (ex-establishment) net of discounts and allowances, including duties and taxes but excluding subsidies.

Salaries and wages are payments in cash or in kind to all employees, prior to deductions for employee’s contributions to SSS/GSIS, withholding tax, etc. Included are total basic pay, overtime pay, and other benefits.

V. Dissemination of Results and Revision

The results of the 2021 ASPBI are disseminated through the posting of Special Releases and electronic publications on the PSA website, and final statistical tables in OpenStat. The updating or revisions on data were done upon finalizing the results of the 2021 ASPBI data.

This Special Release presents the results of the 2021 ASPBI for Water Supply; Sewerage, Waste Management and Remediation Activities establishments (Section E). Data are presented by industry group or 3-digit classification as classified under the 2009 PSIC.

VI. Citation

Philippine Statistics Authority. (September 2023). Technical Notes on the 2021 Annual Survey of Philippine Business and Industry (ASPBI).

https://psa.gov.ph/technical-notes/2021aspbi

VII. Contact Information

John Paul C. Sacop 
(Supervising Statistical Specialist) 
Officer-in-Charge, Industry Statistics Division 
(632) 8376-2060 
isd.staff@psa.gov.ph

For data request, you may contact the: 
Knowledge Management and Communications Division 
(632) 8462-6600 local 839 
info@psa.gov.ph