The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) – La Union Provincial Statistical Office headed by Chief Statistical Specialist (CSS) Danites E. Teñido, Ph.D., together with Supervising Statistical Specialist (SSS) Malvin A. Quinto, Statistical Specialist II (SS II) Leny Grace S. Balanon, Statistical Analyst (SA) Mariel B. Layugan  and various stakeholders in La Union attended a two-day hybrid Briefing-workshop with Stakeholders for the Compilation of the Provincial Product Accounts  (PPA) of Ilocos Region organized by the PSA-Regional Statistical Services Office I (RSSO I) on 20 to 21 March 2023 at J & V Hotel and Resort, City of San Fernando, La Union.

Envisioned to compile the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the provinces and highly urbanized cities (HUCs), PSA has started the compilation of PPA, a mechanism to measure the economic performance of provinces and HUCs. The PPA compilation began in 2021, with three pilot regions, and expanded further to cover additional six regions in 2022. This year, 2023, PPA covers more ground as additional seven regions are included in the compilation, including the Ilocos Region. These seven regions will compile the GDP of the provinces and HUCs for the period 2018 to 2022. 

The conduct of the Briefing-Workshop with Stakeholders for the Compilation of the Provincial Product Accounts of Ilocos Region aimed to: brief the participants/ stakeholders on the System of National Accounts (SNA); discuss the importance of the PPA and the data requirements for the compilation of PPA; and gather feedback on the perception of participants on the economic situation of the region and its provinces.

The briefing-workshop officially began through the message extended online by            Officer- in-Charge Deputy National Statistician Divina Gracia L. Del Prado, Ph.D. of the Sectoral Statistics Office who highlighted that the need for more disaggregated economic data is inevitable, especially in the recent years when the Philippine economy suffered contractions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She also added that due to the demand for provincial-level economic data, the PSA started the compilation of PPA. The opening message was followed by the introduction of the briefing-workshop objectives and expectation presented by CSS Juanito Y. Yabes of PSA-RSSO I. Meanwhile, CSS Florande S. Polistico of Production Accounts Division (PAD) discussed on the Introduction to the System of National Accounts (SNA) and the PPA. The discussion covered topics on economic performance and the PSA, the need and benefits of PPA and PSA Board Resolution No. 04, Series of 2021 “Enjoining Government Agencies, Local Government Units, and Private Sectors to Provide Data Support in the Generation of Provincial Product Accounts.”

To inform the stakeholders on the data and data sources for PPA compilation, the overview and data requirements by industry were presented. This covered discussion on Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing by CSS Polistico of PAD followed by the discussion on Industry that includes mining and quarrying; electricity, steam, water, and waste management; manufacturing; and construction by Senior Statistical Specialist (SrSS) Jovel O. Nabia of PAD.

Moreover, SS II Shiloh Carah E. Pihoc of Subnational Economic Accounts Division (SEAD) presented on Services that covered sub-industries on wholesale and retail trade; repair of motorcycles and motor vehicles; transportation and storage; accommodation and food service activities; information and communication; financial and insurance activities; real estate and ownership of dwellings; professional and business activities; public administration and defense; compulsory social security; education; human health and social work activities; and other services.

The second day of the briefing-workshop included the presentation of consolidated outputs both from online and onsite participants from various stakeholders by province and region. Participants were from the City/Municipal Planning and Development Office (C/MPDO), Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO) from Local Government Units (LGUs), Offices from the Provincial Government Unit of La Union, Regional Line Agencies and Provincial Line Agencies.

The activity was formally concluded by Dr. Teñido, who thanked the participants for their positive response to come up with the expected output of the briefing-workshop and who requested for their continuous support to this activity to produce the needed data as inputs to policy makers and program planners in crafting policy and programs.   

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

MAQ/MBL

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