Quezon City, Philippines – The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)-Ilocos Sur joined the 2024 POPCEN-CBMS Geotagging of Service Facilities and Government Projects (SFGP) Task Force Training at the Great Eastern Hotel, Quezon Avenue, Quezon City, from 10 to 13 February 2025. The training, led by the Community-Based Statistics Service – Geospatial Management Division (CBSS-GMD) and the Economic Sector Statistics Service - Industry Statistics Division (ESSS-ISD), aimed to equip participants from various provinces across the Philippines with essential knowledge and skills for geotagging service facilities and government projects.

Among the attendees were Assistant National Statistician Kristine Joy S. Briones of CBSS, along with key representatives from the Ilocos Region, such as OIC-SOCD Chief (Supervising Statistical Specialist) Teresa B. Olarte, Senior Statistical Specialist 
Divino Amor P. Rivera, Statistical Specialist II May-Ann N. Cacho, and Information Systems Analyst I Arvin Jay D. Casuga. Other attendees included Senior Statistical Specialist Melchor S. Bautista, Statistical Specialist II Dante D. Dacquel, and Information Systems Analyst I Janice M. Hadap, as well as representatives from Ilocos Norte, La Union, and Pangasinan.

The 2024 POPCEN-CBMS SFGP aims to collect both spatial (location) and 
non-spatial data (e.g., name, structure type, construction date) of households, service facilities, and government projects within localities. Only service facilities that are operational during the visit will be geotagged, including all health and educational facilities, whether government-owned or privately operated.

Besides service facilities, government projects—both infrastructure and 
non-infrastructure—with construction starting dates from 01 May 2021 to 12 April 2025 will be geotagged. Also, for the meantime, geotagging of building construction will cover both government (excluding horizontal projects such as roads and bridges) and private buildings with visible or ongoing construction that requires a building permit.

Collected data will be recorded on Form 8, also known as 2024 POPCEN-CBMS SFGP Geotagging Form, either through tablet-based or paper-based mapping. The processed data will be utilized as an instrument in developing thematic and poverty maps, which are essential for planning, decision-making, and policy formulation. These maps will help authorities assess the impact osf ongoing and future development programs and projects, particularly in promoting economic growth and poverty alleviation. The geotagging effort is a critical step in ensuring that data-driven decisions shape the country’s development strategies.

The PSA underscores the importance of transparency and accuracy in data collection, processing, and validation to ensure quality. Through this initiative, the PSA reaffirms its commitment to delivering high-quality data that empowers local governments in shaping sustainable and inclusive development strategies.
 

SGD. JEANETTE M. MARZAN    
Chief Statistical Specialist
PSO Ilocos Sur