Changing with the times, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) marked its 7^th year anniversary with the conduct of its first ever virtual celebration. The event themed “PSA Embracing the New Normal in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR)” was held on 12 September 2020, and participated by PSA officials and personnel from the central, and field offices through online videoconferencing.

In his anniversary message, Undersecretary Dennis S. Mapa, Ph.D., National Statistician and Civil Registrar General (NSCRG), emphasized the many challenges that everyone is experiencing because of this pandemic. Usec. Mapa expressed his understanding that this pandemic brings people - fear, anxiety and work pressure - as frontliners ourselves. He iterated the need to strengthen support systems, to engage in discussing mental health challenges, practicing empathy, kindness and compassion while expressing his trust in PSA to deliver quality services.

Usec. Mapa continued to express the need to maintain personal health, and safety while continuing to conduct PSA’s activities such as the Census of Population and Housing, Labor Force Survey, National Accounts, and Consumer Price Index among others. He further called for the entire PSA family’s continued support and commitment as PSA moves in the conduct the Family Income and Expenditure Survey (FIES), development of Civil Registry System – Information Technology Project 2 (CRS-ITP2), and implementation of the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) and Community Based Monitoring System (CBMS). These projects being the mark of the industrial revolution as PSA contributes to systematic countrywide technological advancement.

Given such large tasks entrusted to PSA, Usec. Mapa’s message aligns with the organizational direction of further empowering its resources to cater the load for which PSA shall serve under its new products. The 4IR and what it stands for are the guide for PSA to position itself towards the new normal, and its challenges ahead while maintaining a quality standard for its product and services.

The anniversary also included recognitions to the 2020 PSA retirees, presentation of the posthumous award, the “Candido J. Astrologo Award” specifically the Best City/Municipal Census Coordinating Board and Best Regional and Provincial Census Coordinating Board. Another activity highlighted is the 2019 PSA Awards wherein the Best in Statistical Operations, Planning and Coordination, Frameworks and Indicator System, Best in Civil Registration, Financial, Human Resource and Administrative Service, Information Dissemination, Partnership and Linkages, and the most improved province were awarded certificates of recognition.

The PSA marked its 7^th anniversary along with the 80^th year of statistical operations in the country. The 7^th year anniversary theme relates to the industrial revolution of PSA covering the grounds on technical advancements through its products, and services. As the country moves forward, the PSA adapts to the new normal through constant innovation in service of its people and hopes that the people return the favor through active participation in PSA’s censuses and surveys, and in the implementation of the Philippine Identification System.

-Planning and Management Service, Office of the National Statistician