As part of the efforts to compile the Provincial Product Accounts (PPA) in additional seven pilot regions in 2023, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) successfully conducted a series of Consultation Workshop with Stakeholders and Validation of 2018 PPA Benchmark Estimates in the following locations: Cagayan Valley on 03 July 2023;  Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and Zamboanga Peninsula on 05 July 2023; Caraga on 07 July 2023; Central Luzon on 10 July 2023; and Ilocos Region and Bicol Region on 11 July 2023.

In her message, Deputy National Statistician Divina Gracia L. del Prado, PhD highlighted the need to improve the reasonableness of the PPA estimates through the conduct of consultation workshops with local stakeholders. She also emphasized the importance of continued support to the PPA initiatives, from data collection to policy-decision making, to achieve the vision of delivering relevant and reliable statistics for equitable development towards the improved quality of life for all.

The consultation workshops were conducted to apprise the stakeholders on the updates on PPA compilation, and to validate the initial estimates and gather comments, feedback, and suggestions. Different stakeholders in the regions and provinces, including the Local Government Units, Provincial and City Planning and Development Offices, and Regional Line Agencies, among others, attended the consultation workshops.

These activities were facilitated by the Subnational Economic Accounts Division and Production Accounts Division of the Macroeconomic Accounts Service, with the cooperation of the respective PSA Regional Statistical Services Offices and Provincial Statistical Offices.

The PPA compilation began in 2021 with three pilot regions and expanded further to cover an additional six regions in 2022. This year, PSA started the PPA compilation in Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Bicol Region, Zamboanga Peninsula, Caraga, and BARMM. These regions will compile the Gross Domestic Product of the provinces and HUCs for the period 2018 to 2022, while the 2021 and 2022 PPA updates will be simultaneously done for the first nine regions.

For more information on PPA, visit our website at https://psa.gov.ph/statistics/ppa.

- Macroeconomic Accounts Service, Sectoral Statistics Office