WORLD BANK PROJECT

SUPPORTING THE NEW PHILIPPINE

STATISTICS AUTHORITY
Prepared by:

Maxine Prences S. Real

Honeylyn Perucho
 Background of Philippine Statistics Authority

Current national data systems are often a complex weave of agencies, departments, and actors, each with
different production timelines, reporting standards, and ways of working. As a result, data compiled by national
statistical offices are often hard to reconcile and take a long time to publish (Espey et al. 2017). To overcome
these challenges and to capitalize on new sources of data available from private sector partners, governments
need strong, coordinated statistical systems. Centralized independent national statistical systems have long been
called for by the United Nations Statistical Commission (UN Statistical Commission 2016), but the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) have created a new urgency given the need for timely, disaggregated data (United
Nations 2015).

The Philippine Statistics Authority was created in 2013 to improve efficiency, quality, and timeliness of official
statistics. Philippines is a country ahead of the curve, having recognized the need for a more coordinated,
consolidated statistical system in the late 1990s (Albert, Reyes, and Macasaquit 2008). At the Government’s
behest, a group of statistical experts were commissioned to undertake an evaluation of the various Philippines
statistical agencies and assess how “fit-for-purpose” the model was (Albert, Reyes, and Macasaquit 2008). They
concluded that the system was too decentralized, resulting in communication breakdowns, delays in
transmitting data from local to central offices (and thereafter publishing it), and human resource inefficiencies.
They concluded that the statistical system and official statistics themselves would benefit from being condensed
and consolidated, particularly to ensure data could be effectively used for policy and planning purposes (Albert,
Reyes, and Macasaquit 2008).

In 2013, as a result of this study and internal advocacy from the National Statistics Office (NSO) (Bersales
2018), the Philippine Statistical Act of 2013 (otherwise known as Implementing Rules and Regulations of
Republic Act No. 10625) was passed (Republic of the Philippines 2013). This legislation consolidated four
existing agencies–the NSO; the National Statistical Coordination Board; the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics;
and the Bureau of Labor and Employment Statistics–into one agency, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
The PSA aims to better coordinate the production of national statistics, both to better support policy and to
improve quality of life for citizens by improving the quality of government services. The government’s
investments in the reform process and the resultant impacts of the reform process on quality and timely data
production show the benefits–and returns–of investing in a strong national data system.

Mandates
The PSA shall plan, develop, prescribe, disseminate and enforce policies, rules and regulations and coordinate
government-wide programs governing the production of official statistics, general-purpose statistics, and civil
registration services.
The PSA shall primarily be responsible for all national censuses and surveys, sectoral statistics, consolidation of
selected administrative recording systems and compilation of national accounts.

Functions of the PSA

1. Serve as the central statistical authority of the Philippine government on primary data collection;
2. Prepare and conduct periodic censuses on population, housing, agriculture, fisheries, business, industry and
other sectors of the economy;

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 3. Collect, compile, analyze, abstract and publish statistical information relating to the country’s economic,
social, demographic, political affairs and general activities and condition of the people;
4. Prepare and conduct statistical sample surveys on all aspects of socioeconomic life including agriculture,
industry, trade, finance, prices and marketing information, income and expenditure, education, health,
culture and social situations as well as the government and the political sector for the use of the government
and the public;
5. Carry out, enforce and administer civil registration functions in the country as provided for in Act No. 3753,
otherwise known as the Civil Registry Law;
6. Collaborate with departments of the national government including GOCCs and their subsidiaries in the
collection, compilation, maintenance and publication of statistical information, including special statistical
data derived from the activities of those departments, corporations and their subsidiaries;
7. Promote and develop integrated social and economic statistics and coordinate plans for the integration of
those statistics, including the national accounts;
8. Develop and maintain appropriate frameworks and standards for the collection, processing, analysis and
dissemination of data;
9. Coordinate with government departments and local government units (LGUs) on the promotion and
adoption of statistical standards involving techniques, methodologies, concepts, definition and
classifications, and on the avoidance of duplication in the collection of statistical information;
10.Conduct continuing methodological, analytical and development activities, in coordination with the
Philippine Statistical Research and Training Institute (PSRTI) to improve the conduct of censuses, surveys
and other data collection activities;
11.Recommend executive and legislative measures to enhance the development of the statistical activities and
programs of the government;
12.Prepare, in consultation with the PSA Board, a Philippine Statistical Development Program (PSDP);
13.Implement policies on statistical matters and coordination, as directed by the PSA Board; and
14.Perform other functions as may be assigned by the PSA Board and as may be necessary to carry out the
purposes of this Republic Act 10625.

Vision

Solid, responsive, and world-class authority on quality statistics, efficient civil registration and inclusive
identification system.

Mission

Deliver relevant and reliable statistics, efficient civil registration services and inclusive identification system for
equitable development towards improved quality of life for all.

Core Values

Integrity
We observe the highest standards of professional behavior by exemplifying impartiality and independence in

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everything we do. We stand firm with undue influence - ensuring integrity cuts across not only in the statistics
we deliver, but more importantly, in our people.

Transparency Adaptability
We ensure We respond to change with a positive attitude and willingness to learn new ways to deliver our
transparency mandate. We stay on top of technological advancements and never give up in the face of
in all challenges, instead finding them as opportunities to discover and gain insights to further our
interactions services to the public.
and
transactions to
build and
nurture trust
inside and
outside the
PSA. We
strive for clear
communicatio
n, shared
knowledge,
and informed,
all-inclusive
decisions for
cultivating
mutual respect
at all levels of
the
organization.

Corporate Personality

P rofessional ethical, expert, competent, dependable, committed to excellence

R esponsive customer focused, active listener, proactive, communicator
I nnovative modern, technologically adept, systems view, thinking out of the box, radical
S trategic long-term view, working smart, game changer, futurity of present decisions
thinker
M otivated values people, promotes welfare, promotes professional development, sound HR
policy

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Logo and Its Meaning

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) logo signifies its commitment to provide timely and quality statistics
necessary for decision making in all aspects of Filipino life. It reflects the PSA’s vision of solid, responsive, and
world-class authority on quality statistics and civil registration; and its mission to deliver relevant, reliable
statistics and civil registration services for equitable development towards improved quality of life for all.

Two main elements in the logo

Three curved arrows

Symbolize the three main pillars of the PSA as an

organization: solid, responsive, and world-class. These
arrows are colored red, yellow, and blue representing
the colors of the Philippine flag and signifying the role
of the PSA as the national statistical agency. The arrows
are joined together on their sides to represent the PSA
being solid, and are pointing upwards to symbolize the PSA’s
dynamism in accomplishing its critical role of achieving the
collective dream of sustained economic and social progress,
reflecting the responsiveness of the PSA.

Sphere and grid (globe)

Represent the PSA’s adherence to the United Nations Fundamental Principles of

Official Statistics and commitment to international conventions and standards. It also represents the PSA’s
participation in the global statistical community, mirroring its vision of being world-class.

World Bank Supporting the new Philippine Statistics Authority

Development Objective

The development objective of the project is to support the statistical requirements of the inclusive growth
agenda of the Philippine government. Specifically, the project will support the start-up requirements of the new
PSA as well as improve the quality, timeliness, and availability of priority sectoral statistics, in particular the
household surveys. The specific objectives are to ensure the sustainability of the new PSA, address the most
urgent issues in the production and dissemination of poverty, employment, and other human development

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statistics through improvements in household surveys, promote accountability for service delivery, and
encourage evidence-based decision-making.

PHILIPPINES: Supporting the New Philippine Statistic Authority Grant No. TF018011

I am writing on behalf of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/International

Association (the WORLD BANK) to indicate the World Bank's Agreement, as administrator of the Multi-Door
Trust Fund for Statistical Capacity Building, to make a grant of not more than U.S.$500,000 (the grant) to the
Republic of the Philippines (the Recipient).

The Grant is made in response to the Recipient’s request for financial assistance and for the purpose and
on the terms and conditions set forth in the Annex to this Letter agreement. The recipient hereby confirms its
request that the WORLD BANK carry out the activities describe in Paragraph 1 of this letter Agreement, and
represents that it is authorized to contract the Grant for the said purpose and the said terms and condition.

PROJECT DETAILS

PROJECT ID P154411

COUNTRY PHILPPINES

RELIGION EAST ASIA PACIFIC

LAST UPDAT DATE JUNE 19, 2018

STATUS CLOSE

APPROVAL DATE (as of board presentation) Septermber 2, 2014

Fiscal year3 015

CLOSING DATE N/A

TEAM LEADER Kevin C. Chua

TOTAL PROJ. COST U.S.$0.50million

COMMITMENT AMOUNT US$ 0.00million

LARGE STATE REACHED BANK APPROVED

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BORROWER N/A

IMPLEMENTING AGENCY N/A

ENVIRONMENTAL CATEGORY C

Status of the Philippine statistic authority

In terms of relative data availability in support of Millennium Development Goods (MDG) the
Philippines ranked first among the 11 countries in South-East Asia. Based on the 2003 report of the United
Nation’s Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP), the Philippines obtained a
rating of 27.9% followed by Thailand with 25.2% and Indonesia with 24.6%.

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID 19) pandemic created a huge and unequal impact on the
economy. It created the worse annual contraction since 1947 (Philippines Statistic Authority 2020). More than a
year since the onset of this crisis, varying levels of economic recovery are also being observe across different
countries and communities. United nation of the Philippines (2020) noted that economic scarring is predicted to
be more prominent in vulnerable

Population groups and industry sector that were unable to fully adapt to the new economic arrangement
that the virus has brought.

However, given the novel situation of the crisis, only a few studies have been conducted about
inequality. Most have been reliant on the standard definition of inequality using income or wealth, thereby,
creating years of lag to produce timely data analysis and policy recommendations. And with the virus projected
to become endemic and produce lasting effect, different institutions are urged to develop innovative ways to
better understanding this pandemic; and provide more proactive responses to better protect the overall health of
the economy and the people.

Central Banks, which are the forefront of maintaining economic stability during these times, are also
among the institutions that are seen to help address some of the resulting growing concerns.

References

 About PSA | Philippine Statistics Authority-Cordillera Administrative Region

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 Improved data governance leads to better economic outcomes for Philippine citizens — TReNDS
(sdsntrends.org)
 Development Projects : Supporting the new Philippine Statistics Authority - P154411 (worldbank.org)