To provide essential information on the country’s production and stocks of palay and corn, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) clears the conduct of four (4) surveys on palay and corn to be undertaken nationwide. These surveys aim to generate statistics that will serve as benchmark information to farmers, researchers, policy-makers and other stakeholders in their planning, monitoring, program formulation and intervention for the sector.

The palay and corn surveys with renewed clearance are as follows:

1. 2020 Palay Production Survey (PPS)

The PPS is a quarterly survey that aims to generate estimates on palay production and area harvested covering 11,756 palay farming households in the Philippines. The survey will utilize a budget of PHP 26.2 million and will be undertaken from 15 to 25 April 2020 as well as during the first ten (10) days of July, October and December 2020. Results of the survey are scheduled to be released 40 days after the reference quarter as prescribed in the System of Designated Statistics (SDS).

Latest results of the PPS showed that:

• The October-December 2019 palay production of 7.5 million metric tons was higher than the 7.2 million metric tons of palay produced during the same period in 2018;
• 1.8 million hectares of land were harvested for palay for the period October-December 2019; and
• the yield recorded for the period October-December 2019 was 4.1 metric tons per hectare, which was higher by 5.2 percent from the 3.9 metric tons per hectare yield recorded for the period October-December 2018.

2. 2020 Corn Production Survey (CPS)

The CPS is a survey being conducted by the PSA to generate estimates on corn production and area harvested. A total of 7,425 corn farming households in the country will be covered in the survey. The PSA has allocated a total budget of PHP 13.9 million for the conduct of the survey. The survey will be undertaken from 15 to 25 April 2020 as well as during the first ten (10) days of July, October and December 2020. Based on the SDS, the results of the survey are scheduled to be released 40 days after the reference quarter.

The following were the key results of the October-December 2019 CPS:

• The October-December 2019 corn production of 1.7 million metric tons was lower than the 1.8 million metric tons of corn produced during the same period in 2018.
• The total area harvested for corn production for the period October-December 2019 was 5.6 million hectares.
• The yield per hectare for the period October-December 2019 increased by 0.5 percent, i.e., from 2.95 metric tons per hectare in the same period in 2018 to 2.97 metric tons per hectare in October-December 2019.

3. 2020 Palay and Corn Stocks Survey (PCSS)

The PCSS aims to generate estimates of current stocks of palay, rice, corn grains and corn grits in farm and non-farm households. With a total budget of PHP 26.1 million, the survey will interview 17,548 farming households from 15 to 18 April 2020 as well as the first four (4) days of each month starting May 2020. As stipulated on the SDS, the PSA is scheduled to release the results of the survey ten (10) days after the reference month.

Recent results of the PCSS showed that:

• The country’s total rice stocks inventory level as of 01 December 2019 reached 3.1 million metric tons. This was 14.0 percent higher than the 2.7 million metric tons recorded as of 01 December 2018.
• On the other hand, the corn stock inventory level was estimated at 794.9 thousand metric tons as of 01 December 2019. This was 26.2 percent higher than the previous year’s record of 629.9 thousand metric tons.

4. 2020 Monthly Palay and Corn Situation Reporting System (MPCSRS)

The MPCSRS is a survey undertaken to monitor the growing conditions and actual planting of palay and corn. It aims to provide the forecast for the current quarter based on standing crop for the next quarter based on planting intentions and to provide monthly updates on the area and production of palay and corn across the country based on growth stages (vegetative, reproductive and maturing).

There will be 5,836 palay farming households and 3,720 corn farming households that will be interviewed on the first five days of the reference month excluding the months of April, July, October and December 2020.The MPCSRS  is being conducted when there are no PPS and CPS.  A total budget of 11.0 million will be utilized for the survey operation. Results of the survey will be released 15 days after the reference month.

Based on the results of the latest MPCSRS, it is estimated that:

• The country's possible palay production for January-March 2020 based on standing crops as of 01 February 2020 will be 4.0 million metric tons while the total area for palay harvest may contract by 3.7 percent from 1.2 million hectares in 2019.
• On the other hand, corn production based on standing crops as of 01 February 2020 may reach 2.4 million metric tons. Meanwhile, the total area for corn harvest may be reduced to 7.0 million hectares from 7.1 million metric tons in 2019.

The palay and corn surveys were 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 (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 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 the public to support the said statistical activities.

For further information on SSRCS, please contact the Statistical Standards Division (SSD) of the Standards Service (SS) with telephone numbers
(02) 8376-1928 and (02) 8376-1931, and email address ssd.staff@psa.gov.ph and 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.