27 February to 01 March 2024 — United Nations Headquarters, NEW YORK, USA. The Philippine Delegation (PhilDel) participated in the 55th Session of the United Nations Statistical Commission (STATCOMM)¹. The Session was attended by delegations from member states and observers from different agencies within the UN System, intergovernmental organizations, and non-governmental organizations.

Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa, PhD, National Statistician and Civil Registrar General (NSCRG), headed the PhilDel, which includes Assistant Secretary Divina Gracia L. del Prado, PhD, Deputy National Statistician of the Sectoral Statistics Office, Officer-in-Charge (OIC)-Assistant National Statistician Rachel C. Lacsa of the Economic Sector Statistics Service, Regional Director Charito C. Armonia of the Regional Statistical Services Office (RSSO) IV-A – CALABARZON, and OIC-Regional Director Nelida C. Amolar of the RSSO VI – Western Visayas of the Philippine Statistics Authority. The PhilDel also includes Executive Director Josefina C. Venegas-Almeda, PhD of the Philippine Statistical Research and Training Institute.

The PhilDel was also joined by the members of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of the Philippines to the United Nations, Minister Jesus Enrique G. Garcia II and Attache Charlene A. Beriana.

The STATCOMM discussed and decided on matters related to the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics (FPOS), Sustainable Development Goal Indicators, National Accounts, Social and Demographic Statistics, Population and Housing Censuses, Data Science, Tourism Statistics, among others. The PhilDel submitted 17 written statements for the Session. The NSCRG and other members of the PhilDel delivered several interventions on priority agenda items during the four-day Session.

In a landmark decision promoting inclusivity and broader representation, the STATCOMM increased the number of member countries, expanding from 24 to 54 countries and ensuring a more equitable geographical distribution. The Philippines actively participated in the inter-sessional negotiations leading to this outcome.

The PhilDel attended various side events of the Session, one of which was on Measuring the Sustainability of Tourism: Closing the gap between policy and statistics. It was organized by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the UN agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable, and universally accessible tourism². In this side event, Undersecretary Mapa was invited to speak about the PSA’s initiatives on Measuring the Sustainability of Tourism in the Philippines. He also expressed support for the endorsement by the STATCOMM of the Statistical Framework for Measuring the Sustainability of Tourism.

The PhilDel also strengthened linkages with other international organizations and the New York Permanent Mission through meetings.

The participation of the Philippine Delegation in the 55th Session of the UN Statistical Commission underscores the country's unwavering commitment to strengthening its national statistical system and contributing to the global development agenda.

- International Cooperation Unit, Office of the National Statistician



_{¹About the 55th Session. https://unstats.un.org/UNSDWebsite/statcom/55
² About UN Tourism https://www.unwto.org/about-us}