It is October and it is National Statistics Month (NSM) once again!

On October 1, 2015, the 26th NSM kicks off at The Heritage Hotel Manila, Pasay City for the Opening Ceremony hosted by the Department of Health (DOH), with Health Secretary Janette-Loreto Garin as keynote speaker.

Now on its 26th year, the celebration focuses on government’s thrust on universal health care and the recognition of the various endeavors of official statisticians and technical personnel involved in the generation of health and nutrition statistics. Thus, this year’s NSM carries the theme, "Pagyamanin at Gamitin ang Estadistika, Kalusugan para sa Lahat ay Abot-Kamay Na."

The highlight of the 26th NSM Opening Ceremony will be the presentation of DOH Universal Healthcare, High Impact (Hi-5) Strategy, and Philippine National Health Accounts by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). The program also features an Oratorical Piece presentation of last year’s NSM first prize winner of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) –Department of Education(DepEd) Annual Oratorical Contest, as well as giving of awards for the 25th NSM Best Activity and other NSM-related awards.

Various agencies across regions, local government units, universities and schools will participate in the month-long celebration through conduct of motorcade, dissemination forums on various agency statistical outputs, lecture on civil registration, statistics training, statistical quiz/contests, reforestation activity, and radio interviews.

Meanwhile, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) will again be hosting the national level closing ceremonies of the 26th NSM, following the 17th BSP-Department of Education (DepEd) Oratorical Contest to be held on 28 October 2015. Regional NSM opening and closing ceremonies will be spearheaded by the PSA and DOH, and BSP, respectively through the Regional Statistical Committees (RSCs), and in cooperation with other regional/provincial line agencies, local government units (LGUs) and state Universities/colleges and private sector organizations.

May we all have fun and health as we celebrate the National Statistics Month!

FOR THE NATIONAL STATISTICIAN:

ROMEO S. RECIDE
(Interim Deputy National Statistician)
Officer-in-Charge