CENSUS. Officials from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and other national government agencies answer questions during the regional launch of the 2024 Census of Population and Community-Based Monitoring System in Legzapi City on Friday (July 12, 2024). A total of 5,430 enumerators and census supervisors will conduct the two statistical activities starting July 15 to Sept. 16, 2024. (PNA photo by Connie Calipay)
LEGAZPI CITY – The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in Bicol will deploy a total of 5,430 enumerators and census supervisors to conduct the 2024 census of population and community-based monitoring system in the region.
During the regional press launch at Hotel Inigo on Friday, PSA regional director Cynthia Perdiz said the two statistical activities will be conducted in 8,164 enumeration areas in the region, covering 3,471 barangays in six provinces from July 15 to Sept. 16.
"In PSA, our mission is to deliver relevant, reliable statistics to our clients and stakeholders. The two statistical undertakings are designed to update population statistics at the local and national levels," she said.
Perdiz added the results will contribute to evidence-based planning and project implementation in the city and municipal levels.
"It will also update the social registries for beneficiary targeting, particularly the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), to identify who will be their beneficiaries and where they are so that there is no leakage, no bias, and who is really deserving. It will also update the number of voters in preparation for the 2025 midterm elections," Perdiz said.
She added the government decided to integrate the two statistical activities to make it easier for the respondents.
"Iyong response ng ating mga respondents na, 'Andito nanaman kayo, pabalik-balik na lang para kumuha ng datos,' para maiwasan ito kaya pinagsabay ang census at CBMS (The census and CBMS will be conducted simultaneously to prevent respondents from saying we keep on coming back for data)," she said.
The PSA encouraged the public to provide truthful answers to the census questions, even as it assured them that information to be provided will be treated with confidentiality and will not be disclosed to any third person or entity.
Perdiz said enumerators and supervisors will conduct 45-minute to one-hour interviews with every household involving household profile, geotagging, and living quarter data collection.
She added the census of population is required for all households, while the CBMS is voluntary.
"The census will be conducted first since it's mandatory, and then on the CBMS module, the respondent will be asked if they are still willing to continue answering," she said. (PNA)
