The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) – La Union Provincial Statistical Office hired and trained six Statistical Researchers (SRs) to conduct the 2^nd Quarter 2020 Fisheries Surveys on June 22 to 26, 2020 in the provinceamidst the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID–19) pandemic with the aim to provide data on volume and value of fisheries production, and aquaculture production and value by aquafarm type.

The four surveys to be conducted are Quarterly Commercial Fisheries Survey (QCFS), Quarterly Municipal Fisheries Survey (QMFS), Quarterly Inland Municipal Survey (QIFS) and Quarterly Aquaculture Survey (QAqS) along with the Business Rapid Assessment Survey for Agriculture and Fisheries (BRASAF)that will serve as a  rider survey for this round in coordination with the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) on behalf of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) Technical working Group (TWG) on Anticipatory and Forward Planning.Questions regarding the impact of COVID-19 and Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) to their fishing activities which includes the kind of agricultural activities they are engaged in during the cropping season and indicating the assistance that they need from the government to continue their fishing activities will be asked.

The statistics that will be generated through the conduct of these surveys will serve as input in the compilation of national accounts, researches and studies, estimation of performance of agriculture, policy making, and program implementation while the result of the rider survey will serve as guide in the development of appropriate policy measures and support programs to help fisherfolks cope with the impact of ECQ and continue their fishing activities and livelihood.

Meanwhile, the key results of the 2019 Fisheries Surveys in La Union are the following:

• La Union ranked second among the provinces of Ilocos Region in terms of fisheries production in 2019.  It contributed 6.76 percent to the total volume of fish production in the region.
• The total volume of fisheries production in 2019 was estimated at 11,463 metric tons which was 9.03 percent higher than the 10,514 metric tons estimate in 2018.
• The commercial fisheries volume of production in La Union reached 1,013 metric tons. The output was higher that its level a year ago of 896 metric tons. This comprised 8.84percent of the total fisheries production of La Union.
• Production from municipal fisheries in La Union in 2019 was estimated at 2,990 metric tons, higher by 66.48 percent than its output of 1,796 metric tons in 2018.Of the total, marine municipal fisheries comprised 86.59 percent while the 13.41 percent came from inland fisheries. 
• Despite the decline in volume of production by 4.63 percent, the aquaculture subsectorposted the highest production (65.07 percent share) among the fisheries subsectors in the province in 2019 at 7,459 metric tons. 

The PSA appeals to the public to cooperate and respond to the abovementioned undertaking. The office assures that all involved regular personnel and hired SRs are in good health condition and will strictly follow precautionary measures against COVID-19 such as strict observance of social distancing measures, wearing of face mask/shield, and proper hygiene and sanitation. The PSA shall also observe all protocols laid down by the Local Government Units (LGUs). 

Furthermore, PSA reassures the public that all information collected from them shall be kept strictly confidential.  Section 26 of Republic Act 10625 stipulates that individual data furnished by the respondent to statistical inquiries, surveys, and censuses of the PSA shall be considered as privileged information and such shall be inadmissible as evidence in any proceeding.  The PSA may release data gathered from surveys and censuses only in the form of summaries or statistical tables, in which no reference to an individual, corporation, association, partnership, institution or business enterprise shall appear. ###

DANITES E. TEÑIDO, Ph.D.

Chief Statistical Specialist

/MBL