The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), in partnership with the National Privacy Commission (NPC) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), conducted two training programs/workshops in August 2021, which were focused on assuring data privacy in light of PSA’s implementation of the Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) under Republic Act (RA) No. 11315 otherwise known as the CBMS Act.

On 23 August 2021, a total of 139 participants attended the Online Training on Republic Act No. 10173, otherwise known as the Data Privacy Act (DPA) of 2012, and Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA).  Officials, CBMS focal persons and Data Protection Officers of the nine selected city/municipal local government units (LGUs) to be covered by PSA in the 2021 Pilot CBMS were given orientation on the DPA of 2012, and advice to actively pursue a PIA in preparation for their involvement in the CBMS.

PSA Undersecretary Dennis S. Mapa, Ph.D., National Statistician and Civil Registrar General, delivered an opening message highlighting the responsibilities of PSA and LGUs in upholding the rights of CBMS data subjects and respondents pursuant to RA No. 11315 and RA No. 10173.

Attorney Vida Zora Bocar of the NPC served as resource person during the training program. Meanwhile, Atty. Florence Duque of the DICT served as moderator during the open forum.

Representatives of the CBMS Council member agencies (i.e., the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the DICT) and of the Technical Working Group on Data Sharing and Privacy for the CBMS (i.e., the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the CBMS Network) were also present during the training. PSA officials and staff from the central and field offices with participation in the 2021 Pilot CBMS and other CBMS preparatory activities joined the training program as well.

Mr. Emmanuel Guillet of the Municipal Planning and Development Office of San Gabriel, La Union and Ms. Jackielou Canoy, Municipal Statistician of Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur gave their impressions about the training. Mr. Guillet said, “this Data Privacy Act of 2012 is very important as this serves as basis in deciding on how to share data. This training also reminds us about how to secure our personal data against scams and breach.” He also thanked the PSA for choosing to conduct the 2021 Pilot CBMS in San Gabriel, La Union.

On the other hand, Ms. Canoy shared her realizations from the training program. She said, “Money and data play equal importance in varying purpose. In working in the local government, one needs reliable data as basis in the formulation of development plans. Handling data and using them in the best way is very crucial and emphasizes accountability.”

OIC-Deputy National Statistician Minerva Eloisa P. Esquivias of the PSA delivered the closing remarks.

The said training program was undertaken in preparation for the inking of a tripartite agreement among the PSA, DILG and the nine pilot LGUs¹.

On 24 August 2021, the PSA conducted the Training-Workshop on the PIA for CBMS for PSA personnel.  A total of 109 participants comprising of PSA officials and staff to be involved in the 2021 Pilot CBMS participated in the online training-workshop, which purposed the initial laying out of inputs for the PIA of the PSA for the CBMS.

Ms. Plenee Grace J. Castillo, Interim Assistant National Statistician of the PSA Community-Based Statistics Service, outlined the detailed objectives of the training-workshop in her opening message.

Mr. Kelvin Magtalas of the NPC served as resource person during the training-workshop. Mr. Magtalas presented the aspects to be assessed in a PIA, the common business requirements for undertaking a PIA and privacy risk solutions.

LGUs with ongoing initiatives and plans to conduct their CBMS are encouraged to coordinate closely with their respective PSA provincial and regional offices. For more information and latest announcements on the CBMS, visit the PSA CBMS webpage at www.psa.gov.ph/cbms.

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

¹  For more information on the pilot LGUs see PSA Press Release Reference No. 2021-397 “PSA Commences the CBMS Online Data Collection in Barangay LGUs of Pilot Cities and Municipalities” dated 21 September 2021.