The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) clears the conduct of the 2019 Survey on Information and Communication Technology (SICT), a rider survey to the 2019 Annual Survey of Philippine Business and Industry (ASPBI). 

The primary objective of the survey is to gather and generate information on the availability, distribution, access/utilization of Information and Communication Technology (ICT)  in  business  and  industry to assess and monitor the digital economy in the country. Specifically, the survey aims to measure the following:

1. component of ICT resources and their utilization by establishments
2. diffusion of ICT into establishments from various sources
3. e-commerce transactions from data on e-commerce sales/revenue and purchases
4. cellular mobile phone business transactions from data on sales/revenue
5. an estimate of the number of ICT workers in establishments
6. methods of disposal of ICT equipment
7. presence of social media accounts of establishments

The data items to be collected in the survey will generate the following indicators:

1. proportion of establishments using computer
2. proportion of employees using computers
3. proportion of establishments with Internet connections
4. proportion of employees using the Internet at work
5. proportion of establishments with Web presence
6. proportion of establishments with Intranet
7. proportion of establishments placing and receiving orders over the Internet
8. proportion of establishments using the Internet by type of access and activity
9. proportion of establishments with LAN and Extranet
10. proportion of establishments on methods of disposal of ICT equipment
11. proportion of establishment with social media accounts

Distribution  of  survey  questionnaires  to 14,000 establishments nationwide  will  be in November 2020.  The survey will utilize a total budget of 
PhP 21.4  million and the results of the survey are expected to be released in December 2021.

Meanwhile, preliminary results from the 2017 SICT are as follows:

1. In 2017, a total of 3,508 information economy (IE) establishments were recorded and 97.2 percent had internet access.
2. The content and media sector (98.5%) had the highest internet access followed by ICT manufacturing with 98.7%. On the other hand, ICT trade  industries recorded the lowest internet access at 96.5 percent.
3. About  64.0 percent  of  the employees use computer routinely at work and 57.2 percent use computer with internet connection.
4. Other results for  the IE  establishments  shows  that  45.0%  maintain website, 77.3% have wired Local Area Network (LAN), 15.1% utilize internet for business, 28.0% conduct business through mobile  phone  and  52.0%  use  internet  to  share  or distribute information for business operations.

The 2019 SICT 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 enjoins establishments to participate in the said survey.

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.

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.