The Provincial Statistics Committee (PSC) of La Union spearheaded the 32^nd National Statistics Month (NSM) virtual closing ceremony on October 28, 2021 that that wrapped up the month-long celebration in the province. 

Supervising Statistical Specialist Malvin A. Quinto of PSA-La Union welcomed the participants and commended the PSC member agencies, Local Government Units (LGUs), academe, private sector and the media for their support to the NSM celebration that led to the successful conduct of the 32^nd NSM activities in the province despite the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

One of the highlights of the closing ceremony was the launching of the Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU) Knowledge Resource Hub.  EnP Darius A. Cargamento, Assistant Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator of the Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO)-La Union presented the PGLU Knowledge Resource Hub as one of the programs under the Provincial Statistical Development Program (PrSDP) proposed by the PSC realizing the importance of data for decision making not only to the public sector but also to businesses and private sector. He also added that the PGLU Knowledge Hub will be included in the PGLU Website to serve as the One Stop Knowledge Hub on data and facts concerning the province.

Atty. Tomas J. Cariño, Acting Director of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) La Union Branch, was invited as the resource speaker during the activity. Atty. Cariño reflected on this year’s NSM theme, “Revving up for Economic and Social Recovery Through Evidence-Based Policies, that highlighted the importance of statistics as bases for policy decisions to address the socio-economic impact of COVID-19. He talked about the three major interventions implemented by the BSP to ensure stability and minimize the adverse effects of the pandemic on the financial system and the economy complementing the government responses to the adverse impact of the pandemic. These interventions are: putting in place measures to boost market confidence on cause and availability of credit resources, adaption of extra ordinary liquidity measures that includes purchases of government securities in the secondary market, and implementation of regulatory operational relief measures to maintain stability of the financial system and ensure public access to financial services.

As in previous years, the most awaited part of the program was the awarding of winners of the various 32^nd NSM competitions. Winners of the said competitions are as follows:

Jingle Making Contest: Secondary Level

1st Place – Castor Z. Concepcion Memorial National High School

2nd Place – Regional Science High School

3rd Place – La Union Cultural Institute

Jingle Making Contest: Tertiary Level

1st Place: Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University-South La Union Campus

Spoken Poetry: Secondary Level

1st Place:      Chrislyn C. Nisperos
                      Lingsat Integrated School

2nd Place:     Vergie Ann Jonuel Stevens
                      La Union National High School

3rd Place:      Kyssha Desiree Onato
                      Caztor Z Concepcion Memorial National High School

Spoken Poetry: Tertiary Level

1st Place:      Anie Sophia P. Garlejo
                     Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University-South La Union Campus

Digital Art Work: Secondary Level

1st Place:      Hannah Lei H. Angeles
                      La Union National High School

2nd Place:     Jerome M. Bugtong
                      OANARI National High School

3rd Place:      Jaybee Lawrence R. Colcol
                      Don Eulogio De Guzman Memorial National High School

Digital Art Work: Tertiary Level

1st Place:      Jayson Javier
                      Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University-South La Union Campus

2nd Place:     Jeifhen P. Villegas
                      Union Christian College

Digital Art Work: TVET Level

1st Place:      Junaliza D. Estoque
                      Great Enthusiasts of Skills Training Academy

2nd Place:     Khryseane Hannah Balla
                      Lorma Colleges

3rd Place:      Michael G. Mendoza
                      LUCST

Digital Art Work: TVET Level

1st Place:      Junaliza D. Estoque
                      Great Enthusiasts of Skills Training Academy

2nd Place:     Khryseane Hannah Balla
                      Lorma Colleges

3rd Place:      Michael G. Mendoza
                      LUCST

Essay Writing Contest: Secondary Level

1st Place:      Princess Mae Q. Bravo
                      Lingsat Integrated School

2nd Place:     Justine Kyle Estrada Barola
                      Union Christian College

3rd Place:      Clijster Jhon P. Lamadrid
                      Don Eulogio De Guzman Memorial National High School

Essay Writing Contest: Tertiary Level 

1st Place:      Jeffrey Y. Benafin
                      DMMMSU-SLUC

2nd Place:     Fremelda Pillos
                      DMMMSU-NLUC

3rd Place:      Julie Kaye Ocon
                      Philippine College of Northwestern Luzon

Essay Writing Contest: Employee Level

1st Place:      Antoinette G. Padua
                     Regional Science High School

2nd Place:     Joy Estela Peralta
                      Castor Z. Concepcion Memorial National High School

3rd Place:      Daniel B. Andrada
                      DAR La Union

Statistics Quiz: Employee Level

5th Place:      Kimberly G. Ledda
                      La Union National High School    

4th Place:      Danica Virlyn E. Ellana
                      San Fernando South Central Integrated School

3rd Place:      Arnel F. Baradi
                      Pagudpud Integrated School

2nd Place:     William S. Gayo Jr.
                      DMMMSU-NLUC

1st Place:      Liwayway A. Orencia
                      Aringay National High School

Essay Writing Contest: Tertiary Level 

1st Place:      Jeffrey Y. Benafin
                      DMMMSU-SLUC

2nd Place:     Fremelda Pillos
                      DMMMSU-NLUC

3rd Place:      Julie Kaye Ocon
                      Philippine College of Northwestern Luzon

Essay Writing Contest: Employee Level

1st Place:      Antoinette G. Padua
                     Regional Science High School

2nd Place:     Joy Estela Peralta
                      Castor Z. Concepcion Memorial National High School

3rd Place:      Daniel B. Andrada
                      DAR La Union

Statistics Quiz: Employee Level

5th Place:      Kimverly C. Ledda
                      La Union National High School

4th Place:      Danica Virlyn E. Ellana
                      San Fernando South Central Integrated School

3rd Place:      Arnel F. Baradi
                      Pagudpud Integrated School

2nd Place:     William S. Gayo Jr.
                      DMMMSU-NLUC

1st Place:      Liwayway A. Orencia
                      Aringay National High School

Infographics Making Contest: Employee Level

3rd Place:      Dustin Calderon
                      PAO National High School

2nd Place:     Marrieta Joy Baloja
                      La Union National High School

1st Place:      Aldrin Galvez
                      Bacnotan National High School

Digital Exhibit Contest: LGU Level

Tie:                San Juan and Bacnotan, La Union

To conclude the virtual closing ceremony, EnP Michaela Louise T. Delfinado,  Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator of PPDO-La Union expressed her sincerest gratitude to those who supported the conduct of the lined-up activities of the 32nd NSM celebration despite the setbacks of the quarantine restrictions and encouraged everyone whether from public or private sector  to serve as a catalyst to innovate the Provincial Statistical System for everyone’s role to upgrade the quality and standards of statistics is a daily endeavor.

The PSA issued Board Resolution No. 11 Series of 2021 enjoining and institutionalizing the support to the annual celebration of the NSM.

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

/mbl