The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), through the Statistical Policies and Programs Division of the Standards Service, conducted the Briefing on Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Philippine Statistical System (PSS) Budget Preparation on 22 February 2022. It was attended by a total of 189 participants from government agencies, including executive offices and constitutional bodies, and the PSA. The briefing was held to orient and/or reorient agencies in the PSS on how to prepare their respective statistical budgets, e.g., what activities are covered and what should be considered in the budget preparation, among others.

The activity formally started with the Welcome Remarks delivered by PSA Undersecretary Dennis S. Mapa, Ph.D., National Statistician and Civil Registrar General. In his message, he emphasized that the goal of the PSA is to provide the right information to the right people at the right time, which will serve as basis for formulating the right policies and programs that can help us overcome this crisis brought about by the pandemic. He mentioned that we can measure the impact of the pandemic, not only in terms of the adverse effects but also the opportunities that this phenomenon has created through statistics.

The objectives of the briefing were as follows:

1. Familiarize participants about the statistical budget review process, i.e., guidelines, timelines, and forms;

2. Brief agencies regarding the Salient Features of the National Budget Call for FY 2023;

3. Guide participants on specific procedures in preparing Tier 2 budget for statistical activities; and

4. Clarify issues/concerns regarding statistical budget preparation/review process.

Resource persons from the PSA and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) discussed and clarified the issues arising from the queries on the following topics:

1. Considerations for FY 2023 Statistical Budget;

2. Salient Features of the National Budget Call for FY 2023;

3. Implication of the Devolution Process to the Tier 2 – FY 2023 Budget Proposals;

4. Fiscal Planning; and

5. Statistical Budget Review System

The activity ended with the Closing Remarks from OIC-Deputy National Statistician Minerva Eloisa P. Esquivias who described the activity as productive and fulfilling. She expressed hope that through this activity, the participants have learned how to ascertain the required financial resources for statistics in the context of each agency’s mandate and budget priorities of the DBM and the PSS.

The annual review of budgetary proposals involving statistical operations of government agencies is pursuant to Republic Act No. 10625 also known as the “Philippine Statistical Act of 2013,” mandating the PSA Board to review statistical budget proposals and submit an integrated budget for the PSS to the DBM. Likewise, National Budget Memorandum No. 142 issued by the DBM on 12 January 2022 requires endorsement from concerned agencies on matters such as the System of Designated Statistics (SDS) pursuant to Executive Order No. 352 “Designation of Statistical Activities That Will Generate Critical Data for Decision-Making of the Government and Private Sector.”

- Standards Service, Censuses and Technical Coordination Office