The search for the country’s young statistics whizzes has begun!

Darell Jhon A. Calaro, a BS Civil Engineering student of Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU), Batac City, Ilocos Norte emerged as Champion after besting the other 21 contestants in the three rounds of the 25^th Philippine Statistics Quiz (PSQ) Regional Championship held on November 12, 2019 at the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office I (DA-RFOI), City of San Fernando, La Union.    Calaro was awarded Php15,000, certificate of recognition, and a medal while his coach, Engr. Jonas Paul B. de la Cruz was also given a cash prize of Php7,500 and certificate of recognition.    Meanwhile, consolation prizes and certificates of participation were given to non-winning contestants and their coaches. The regional champion will represent the region in the PSQ National Championship which will be held in Metro Manila on November 29, 2019.

Jedric L. Campos of Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University-Mid La Union Campus (DMMMSU-MLUC) and Rose Ann D. Español of Pangasinan State University-Urdaneta (PSU) bagged the 1^st Runner Up and 2^nd Runner Up with cash prizes of Php12,000 and Php9,000 respectively, medals, and certificates of recognition.  Their coaches, Dr. Luis Tattao and Andhee M. Jacobe were also give cash prizes of Php6,000 and Php4,500 respectively and certificates of recognition.  

The Regional Championship was held simultaneously with other regions nationwide and was spearheaded by the PSQ Regional Steering Committee chaired by Atty. Sheila O. De Guzman, Philippine Statistics Authority Regional Statistical Services Office I (PSA-RSSO I) Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Regional Director. 

Before the Regional Championship, provincial eliminations were conducted simultaneously in the four provinces of the region on October 25, 2019.  There were 22 qualified contestants that proceeded to the regional championship:  Ilocos Norte (5); Ilocos Sur (5); La Union (7); and Pangasinan (5). 

The Philippine Statistics Quiz (PSQ) is an annual contest, started in 1992, designed to test the proficiency in statistics of first time college freshmen. It aims to instill the value of statistics among students and to measure the effectiveness of high school statistics curriculum. Regional championships in the 17 regions of the country were held to determine regional representatives to the National Finals.

Moreover, the PSQ identifies and nurtures talents especially in the field of statistics. It contributes to the advocacy in the use of statistics for evidence-based decision making. Results of the contest can also provide indicators of the effectiveness of the statistics component of mathematics as a subject of the secondary curriculum.

The PSA, the central statistics authority of the government on primary data collection and, the Philippine Statistical Association, Incorporated (PSAI), a non-stock, non-profit organization of professional statisticians from government and nongovernment agencies and the academe are the organizers of this year’s event.

SGD. ATTY. SHEILA O. DE GUZMAN

(Chief Administrative Officer)

Officer-in-Charge