06 October 2023 – CENTURY PARK HOTEL. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) conducted the 8th Regional Statistics Committee (RSC) Summit. The annual conduct of the Summit is in recognition of the vital role of the RSC as the policymaking body on statistical matters at the local level.

The Summit, which adopted the theme “Accelerating Progress: Promoting Data and Statistics for Healthy Philippines: Empowering Communities through Local-level Data and Statistics” served as venue for sharing regional best practices, innovations, and accomplishments in local statistics development towards rebuilding the economy. It also served as venue to discuss issues and concerns at the subnational level.

Officer-in-Charge Deputy National Statistician (DNS) Minerva Eloisa P. Esquivias of the PSA Censuses and Technical Coordination Office (CTCO) opened the Summit by welcoming all the participants and congratulating everyone for the success of the events prior to the Summit. She highlighted the importance of data at the local level, as well as the importance of the continuous and sustained effort to improve the local statistical system through the regular conduct of capacity-building activities and undertakings, and for formulating appropriate and timely policies to ensure a stable and effective regional statistical system.

Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) gave an inspirational message which highlights on the importance of the RSC Summit as platform for collaboration among RSCs. He underscored the RSC’s crucial role in providing guidance and direction for the conduct of regional and local statistical development activities in order to achieve a matatag, maginhawa, at panatag na buhay for all Filipinos.

One of the highlights of the Summit was the Regional Presentations by OIC-Chief Helen L. Adolacion of the Regional Statistical Services Office (RSSO) National Capital Region Statistical Operations and Coordination Division (SOCD), Assistant Regional Director Dolores J. Molintas of NEDA Region VII, and OIC-Chief Maria Leah C. Magracia of RSSO IX SOCD. These presentations emphasized the regional best practices, innovations, and challenges in the collection, dissemination, and monitoring of statistics at the local level.

Presentations were also made on the following topics: (a) RSDP 2023-2029 Formulation: Experience of CAR; (b) Zooming in on Local-level Statistics through the Community-Based Monitoring System, (c) Use of PSA Data Enclave; and d) Updates on the Implementation of Routine Information and Statistics for Enhancement of Public Health (RISE PH) at the Local Level, by Chief Statistical Specialist Aldrin Federico R. Bahit, Jr. of RSSO Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) SOCD, Assistant National Statistician Kristine Joy S. Briones of the PSA Community-Based Statistics Service, Information Technology Officer III Jing B. Jalisan of the PSA Registers and Database Management, and Dr. Vito G. Roque, Jr., Medical Officer V of the Department of Health (DOH), respectively. These were followed by an open forum.

Likewise, presentations were made on: (a) Updates on RSC Issues/Concerns; (b) Presentation on PSDP 2023-2029 with focus on the Local Statistics Development Chapter; and (c) RSC Policy Agenda for 2024, by Senior Statistical Specialist Willi Krizzia May G. Oracion, OIC-DNS Minerva Eloisa P. Esquivias, and Statistical Specialist II Katherine Eve E. Ebue, respectively.

The much-anticipated Best RSC Awards for 2023, awarded by PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa, National Statistician and Civil Registrar General, recognized RSCs that excelled in the performance of their functions from the third quarter of 2022 to the second quarter of 2023. RSC CALABARZON got the first place followed by RSC Cagayan Valley, RSC Eastern Visayas, RSC Caraga, and RSC CAR. On the other hand, RSC Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao bagged the Breakthrough RSC Award for 2023.

OIC-DNS Clemente Manaog of the PSA Civil Registration and Central Support Office ended the Summit with his closing remarks which reiterated how the Summit has been a helpful platform for sharing brilliant ideas on how to resolve RSC issues and concerns.

The face-to-face conduct of the 8th RSC Summit was attended by national and regional participants which included PSA Board member agencies, RSC Chairs and Vice-Chairs, representatives from other agencies, members of the academe, and PSA officials and staff.

For more information on the 8th RSC Summit, please contact the Statistical Policies and Programs Division of the Standards Service with telephone numbers (02) 8376-1928 and (02) 8376-1931, and e-mail address sppd.staff@psa.gov.ph.

-Standards Service, Censuses and Technical Coordination Office