The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) prepares for the conduct of the 2020 Census of Population and Housing that will start on 04 May 2020. Pursuant to Batas Pambansa (BP) Bilang 72, Executive Order No. 352 and Republic Act No. 10625, the PSA is the government agency mandated to conduct the census.

The 2020 CPH will be a nationwide government undertaking that involves the collection, compilation, evaluation, analysis, publication, and dissemination of data on population count, demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the population, housing characteristics, household characteristics, and barangay characteristics in each barangay, city/municipality, province and region in the country. The census also aims to provide government executives, policy makers, and planners with population and housing data on which to base their social and economic development plans, policies and programs.

In reference to the first Philippine census conducted in 1903, the 2020 CPH is the 15th census of population and 7th census of housing in the Philippines. The following information as of 01 May 2020 will be asked from the respondents of all households:

• size and geographical distribution of the population
• population composition (sex, age, marital status)
• education and literacy
• birth registration
• religion
• ethnicity
• functional difficulty

Additional information on the following will be gathered from 20 percent sample households:

• occupation, industry, class of worker, place of work
• fertility indicators
• housing characteristics
• manner of garbage disposal
• type of toilet facility
• type of fuel for lighting and cooking
• main source of water supply
• land ownership
• presence of operator in crop farming, livestock and poultry raising, aquaculture, and fishing
• language/dialect generally spoken at home
• location where the household intends to reside five (5) years from now
• household conveniences ownership
• ICT devices ownership
• vehicles ownership
• type/s of internet access available at home
• location where the household member/s use the internet in the last three (3) months

At least 100,000 enumerators, team supervisors, census area supervisors and assistant census area supervisors will be involved in the conduct of the census. Pursuant to BP 72, the Department of Education (DepEd) school teachers will undergo a series of training programs to be conducted from February to April 2020 to serve as enumerators for the census.

The results of the final population counts by province, city, municipality and barangay are scheduled to be submitted to the President of the Philippines on or before 31 December 2020 for official proclamation.

Results of the 2015 Census of Population (POPCEN) showed that:

• As of 01 August 2015, the Philippines had a total population of 100,981,437.
• The total number of households in the country in 2015 was recorded at 22.98 million, higher by 2.80 million compared with 20.17 million in 2010 and by 7.70 million compared with 15.28 million in 2000.
• The country’s average household size decreased from 4.6 persons in 2010 to 4.4 persons in 2015.
• The increase in the Philippine population was translated into an average population growth rate of 1.7 percent annually during the period 2010 to 2015.

The 2020 CPH was reviewed and cleared for conduct under the Statistical Survey Review and Clearance System (SSRCS), a mechanism being implemented by the PSA by virtue of Rule 28 of Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 10625 to:

• ensure sound design for data collection;
• minimize the burden placed upon respondents;
• effect economy in statistical data collection;
• eliminate unnecessary duplication of statistical data collection efforts; and
• achieve better coordination of government statistical activities.

In line with this, the PSA urges the public to support and actively participate in the 2020 CPH.

The clearance for the conduct of the 2020 CPH was issued on 20 December 2019.

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 or ssdss.staff@gmail.com.

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

See more at the Statistical Survey Review and Clearance System (SSRCS) landing page.