Nation observes 20th Nat’l Statistics Month

By Rizalie A. Calibo

Province of Siquijor (12 October) — The National Statistics Office (NSO) here announces that the 20th observance of the National Statistics Month (NSM) officially started in October 1, 2009 with a simple ceremony held at the AFP Commissiones Officers Club, Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

The annual statistical event, spearheded by the agencies under the Philippine Statistical System with the Department of National Defense (DND) being designated as this year’s host, is focusing on the security sector with the theme “Enhancing Security Sector Stattistics for Good Governance, Peace and Sustainable Development” or Pagpapahusay ng Estadistika sa Sektor Panseguridad para sa Mabuting Pamamahala, Kapayapaan at Maipagpapatuloy na Pagpapaunlad.”

DND Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro was the keynote speaker during the event while National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) Secretary General Romulo A. Virola gave the welcome remarks. Highlights of the program include presentations on security sector statistics by the DND; measuring peace in the community by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), and the launching of the NSCB Interagency Committee on Secuirty Sectors Statistics (IAC-SSS).

The IAC-SSS wll be a forum on how to improve security sector statistics in the country, including a disaster management information system that can prepare us better to cope with the devastation caused by natural disasters like typhoon “Ondoy.”

Across the country, various statistical activities are lined up during the whole month of October with the Regional Statistical Coordination Committees (RSCCs) and NSO Regional/Provincial Offices, and NEDA Regional Offices coordinating with and providing support to other agencies. The OCD has been designated as the DND’s focal agency in the regions.

In the province, a series of activities is scheduled to be conducted. Among these are the NSM launching ceremony, meeting with MCRs/partner agencies, launching of the annual Philippine Statistics Quiz (PSQ), hanging of NSM celebration streamers, lectures and training on statistics for NSO provincial staff, mangrove tree planting in Lom,angcapan, Enrique Villanueva and statistical exhibit at NSO and authorized statistical data centers in the province.

The closing ceremony of the event will be hosted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) during the BSP-DepEd Oratorical Contest on October 28, 2009 at 1:30 p.m. to be held at the BSP Assembly Hall, BSP Three-Storey Building, Malate, Manila, where high school student orators in the National Capital Region (NCR) will vie for the top prize. (PIA)