The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) clears the conduct of the 2022 Census of Agriculture and Fisheries (CAF) Pilot Census from 25 October to 24 November 2021. The pilot census intends to simulate the conduct of a sample census in the selected pilot areas to test the data collection instruments, systems, procedures, data processing and evaluation systems, AI models and prediction results, and estimation procedures that will be recommended for use in the actual census.

The pilot census will interview households, individuals, and establishments in three pilot municipalities and a pilot barangay namely:

a. San Mateo, Isabela
b. Talibon, Bohol
c. Socorro, Surigao del Norte
d. Barangay Tambler, City of General Santos

The data items included in the census were based on the recommendations of the World Census on Agriculture (WCA) 2020 to provide key data using classical approach and these are the following:

a. Number of households with household members engaged as operators of agricultural/aquaculture farms and/or fishing operators;
b. Number of agricultural/aquaculture/fishing operators/holders;
c. Legal status of operators/holders in agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing activities;
d. Type of agricultural activity operated such as growing of crops and raising of livestock and/or poultry, and type of fishery activity such as aquaculture, municipal fishing and/or commercial fishing;
e. Characteristics of agricultural holdings/farms such as main purpose of production; number, physical area, location, tenure status, and main use of parcels; whether or not the parcel was irrigated; kind of crops planted in each parcel; planting pattern, area planted, and area harvested of each crop; and kind and inventory of livestock/poultry raised;
f. Characteristics of aquaculture, such as the type, location and size/volume of aquafarm, and type of water environment used;
g. Characteristics of fishing activity, such as the type of water for fishing operation, number, ownership, gross tonnage and kind of boat/vessel used, and type of fishing gears/devices/accessories employed in fishing activity;
h. Demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the operators and their household members; and
i. Presence/availability of agriculture and fishery facilities such as input dealers and service providers in the barangay, and destructive natural calamities experienced in the barangay in the past five years.

The 2022 CAF pilot census will utilize a budget amounting to PhP 17.4 million, and the pilot census report is scheduled to be completed in March 2022.

This was reviewed and cleared for conduct under the Statistical Survey Review and Clearance System, 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 households, individuals, and establishments in the pilot areas to support the 2022 CAF Pilot Census by providing the required information. An authorized PSA interviewer will visit the households and establishments to conduct a personal interview. If personal interview is not possible, options to provide information through other modes are available such as Computer-Assisted Personal Interview (CAPI), Self-Administered Electronic Questionnaire (SAEQ) and Self-Administered Paper Questionnaire (SAPQ). The Computer-Assisted Web-based Interview (CAWI) will also be made available for use of the establishments that will be covered in the pilot census.

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 and 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 landing page.