The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) granted clearance for the 2021 National Survey on the Awareness of Government Entities on the Philippine Competition Act (PCA) and the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) to be conducted by the Philippine Survey and Research Center, Inc. (PSRC), a third-party organization contracted by the PCC.

The survey aims to determine the awareness of government entities on the PCC, its mandate, and the PCA. The survey results will allow the agency in creating useful strategies that will educate government entities about competition policy and law to benefit Filipino consumers.

Major data items to be collected in the survey include the following:

a. Number of employees, position, duration of employment, and awareness of government entities and its functions;
b. Sources of awareness on PCC, awareness of PCC responsibilities and functions, and awareness on PCC head; and
c. Awareness of anti-competitive laws, awareness on PCA, sources of information on PCA, awareness on the coverage of the PCA, and the sources of local news.

A total of 700 government entities clustered into 40 Government-Owned and Controlled corporations (GOCCs), 100 National Government Agencies (NGAs), and 560 Local Government Units (LGUs) will be targeted to participate in the survey.

A total budget amounting to PhP 4.15 million will be utilized in the survey. The survey will be conducted in September to December 2021. Results are expected to be released in January to February 2022.

Meanwhile, key results of the 2020 National Survey on the Awareness of Government Entities on the PCC and the PCA indicated that:

a. Only 32.0 percent of the sample government entities in the country were aware of the PCC. Among the types of government entities, GOCCs posted the highest awareness level at 64.0 percent. On the other hand, among the major island groups, Visayas posted the highest level of awareness at 33.0 percent.

b. In terms of awareness on the PCA, 24.0 percent of the sampled government entities were aware of the PCA. GOCCs recorded the highest percentage of awareness at 42.0 percent and among major island groups, Visayas had 27.0 percent of awareness.

This survey was reviewed and cleared for conduct under the Statistical Survey Review and Clearance System (SSRCS), a mechanism being implemented by the PSA by virtue of Rule 28 of Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 10625 to:

a. ensure sound design for data collection,
b. minimize the burden placed upon respondents,
c. effect economy in statistical data collection,
d. eliminate unnecessary duplication of statistical data collection efforts, and
e. achieve better coordination of government statistical activities.

In line with this, the PSA enjoins the GOCCs, NGAs, and LGUs to support and participate in the survey by providing the information needed.

For further information on SSRCS, please contact the Statistical Standards Division of the Standards Service with telephone numbers (02) 8376-1928 and (02) 8376-1931, and email address: ssd.staff@psa.gov.ph or ssdss.staff@gmail.com.

DENNIS S. MAPA, Ph.D.
Undersecretary
National Statistician and Civil Registrar General

See more at the Statistical Survey Review and Clearance System (SSRCS) landing page.