The 2021 Pilot Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) in San Gabriel, La Union, implemented by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) – La Union Provincial Statistical Office under the supervision of PSA – Regional Statistical Services Office I (RSSO I), jumpstarted on October 18, 2021 and will run until December 20, 2021 to cover all households of the municipality.

The main objectives of the CBMS are: to generate updated and disaggregated data necessary for targeting beneficiaries; to conduct more comprehensive poverty analysis and needs prioritization; and to provide information that will enable a system of public spending that warrants government allocation on areas. For the 2021 Pilot CBMS, it aims to conduct a full-scale census in selected areas nationwide, that includes San Gabriel, to test the procedures recommended for use in the nationwide rollout of the CBMS data collection and to improve any aspect necessary.

A total of 29 hired field personnel, composed of one Census Area Supervisor (CAS), five Team Supervisors (TS), and 23 Enumerators (ENs), were hired by PSA-La Union to carry out the CBMS field operations. The ENs will use a technology-based application system such as the Computer-Assisted Personal Interview (CAPI) to capture data in the Household Profile Questionnaire (HPQ) in the said municipality strictly abiding with minimum health and safety protocols such as physical distancing, frequent hand sanitizing, and wearing of face mask and face shield during interviews in light of the current health emergency due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

The PSA is mandated to implement the CBMS under Republic Act (RA) No. 11315, otherwise known as the Community-Based Monitoring System Act approved on April 17, 2019 with its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) signed on May 20, 2020. 

A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was entered into by the PSA, represented by Atty. Sheila O. De Guzman, OIC Regional Director of RSSO I; the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Regional Office I, represented by Regional Director Julie J. Daquioag; and the Local Government Unit (LGU) of San Gabriel, represented by Hon. Herminigildo M. Velasco, Local Chief Executive.

All personnel involved in the 2021 Pilot CBMS are required to keep in strict confidence any information obtained during the CBMS that pertains to any household or individual information.  Section 26 of RA No. 10625 stipulates that “individual data furnished by a respondent to statistical inquiries, surveys, and censuses conducted by the PSA shall be considered privilege communication and as such shall be inadmissible as evidence in any proceeding.”  Meanwhile, Section 19 of RA No. 10173 states that “personal information shall be held under strict confidentiality and shall be used only for the declared purpose.”  ###

SGD. DANITES E. TEÑIDO, Ph.D.
Chief Statistical Specialist

MAQ/ART

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