The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) – La Union Provincial Statistical Office will conduct its regular quarterly and monthly Agri-Surveys that includes: July 2021 Palay and Corn Production Survey (PCPS) and Palay and Corn Stocks Survey (PCSS) on July 1-10, 2021 to gather information on the levels of production and stock of palay and corn and other relevant information that would be helpful in the generation of quality agriculture-purpose statistics.

The PCPS is a quarterly survey that generates estimates of palay/corn area harvested, production and yield covering while the PCSS intends to generate estimates of current stocks of palay, rice, corn grains and corn grits in farm and non-farm households.  Data gathered from these surveys are perceived to be significant as it serves as a guide for the government and private sector in decision making and planning for the improvement of farm production.

In 1st quarter 2021, the key results of the PCPS in La Union are the following:

• Palay production decreased by 16.44 percent in 1st quarter 2021 at 25,343 metric tons compared with the production in the same period of 2020 at 30,330 metric tons.

• Area harvested for palay in the province went down by 6.28 percent from 6,006 hectares in 1st quarter 2020 to 5,629 hectares in 1st quarter 2021.

• Palay’s yield per hectare declined to 4.50 metric tons per hectare in 1st quarter 2021 from 5.05 metric tons per hectare in the same quarter a year ago.

• The corn production in the province was posted at 23,470 metric tons which recorded a decline of 10.41 percent from the 26,197 metric tons production in 1st quarter 2020.

• The area harvested for corn also declined by 8.97 percent from 4,484 hectares in 1st quarter 2020 to 4,082 metric tons in 1st quarter 2021.

• Corn’s yield per hectare decreased from 5.84 metric tons per hectare in 1st quarter 2020 to 5.75 metric tons per hectare in 1st quarter 2021.

PSA-La Union hired and trained 11 Statistical Researches (SRs) who will visit about 381 households for PCPS and 75 households for PCSS in the province using structured questionnaire and hybrid approach of interviewing.  The PSA assures that the SRs will adhere with the minimum health and safety protocols such as, but not limited to wearing of face mask and face shield, frequent sanitizing of hands, and physical distancing to contain the spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Furthermore, the PSA reassures the public that the data gathered from said surveys are for statistical purposes only. Information obtained from the respondents shall be accorded STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL as provided under Republic Act (RA) 10625. ###

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

/maq