The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) - La Union Provincial Statistical Office conducted an Information Campaign on 2023 Geo-enabled Master Sample and Data Dissemination on Foreign Trade Statistics, Inflation Report, PhilSys Birth Registration Assistance Project (PBRAP), and Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) on 08 November 2023 at J&V Hotel and Resort, City of San Fernando, La Union.

The activity was attended by representatives from Provincial Line Agencies, Local Government Units (LGUs), and the media.

Chief Statistical Specialist (CSS) Danites E. Teñido, PhD of PSA – La Union presented the overview and features of the 2023 Geo-enabled Master Sample (MS). She informed the participants on the MS as a sampling frame that encompasses the whole target population and from where the PSA chooses samples for multiple surveys or rounds of the same survey.   Registration Officer I (RO I), Engr. Mart Marciano Antonn A. Aromin presented on the 2023 Geo-enabled MS: Primary Sampling Unit Formation. Meanwhile, Statistical Specialist II (SS II) Engr. Leny Grace S. Balanon discussed on the integration of geospatial to sampling units. SS II Balanon mentioned that accurate, complete, and up-to-date maps are relevant in map-based data collection, location-based information dissemination activities through static and dynamic map visualization, and geo-enabled sampling frames for household-based surveys.

Meanwhile, Statistical Analyst (SA) Karl Josef G. Hufana disseminated on Foreign Trade Statistics at the La Union Ports for the 1^st semester of 2023.   SA Hufana reported that in the 2^nd quarter of 2023, the total external trade of goods imported and exported at the ports in La Union amounted to USD 269.25 million, a decrease of 5.45 percent compared with the 1^st quarter of 2023 figure of USD 284.78 million. Of the total external trade in La Union for the 1^st semester of 2023, 65.17 percent were exported goods, while the rest were imported goods.

CSS Teñido also presented the result of the October 2023 Inflation Report for the province.  She reported that La Union’s headline inflation eased to 4.6 percent in October 2023 from 5.4 percent in September 2023 bringing the provincial average inflation rate from January to October 2023 to 4.5 percent. The downtrend in the inflation of the province in October 2023 was primarily brought about by the slower year-on-year increase in the index of heavily weighted food and non-alcoholic beverages at 8.4 percent from 10.8 percent in September 2023.  This was followed by furnishings, household equipment, and routine household maintenance, with a slower annual growth of 2.8 percent in October 2023 from 3.2 percent in September 2023.  Personal care and miscellaneous goods and services, with 1.7 percent inflation in October 2023 from 1.8 percent in the previous month was the third main contributor to the downtrend of the headline inflation of the province.

Moreover, Registration Officer II (RO II) Girard Francis M. Casuga presented on the updates of PBRAP, one significant milestone of the PSA to ensure that all births of Filipinos are registered in the Local Civil Registry Offices (LCROs) and that they will be enrolled in the PhilSys.  RO II Casuga reported that as of 06 November 2023, a total of 3,230, or 48.35 percent of 6,680 target individuals, were verified to have negative record or no birth registration record and are eligible for registration. 

Lastly, PhilSys Focal Person Joselito N. Lavaro provided information on PhilSys updates. He reported that, as of 31 October 2023, a total of 648,741 Filipinos five years old and over had already completed the PhilSys Step 2 registration in La Union.   As of 31 October 2023, a total of 175,382 electronic PhilID cards (ePhilIDs) were issued by PhilSys team to registered persons with PhilSys Numbers (PSNs) while a total of 471,686 PhilIDs were already delivered to PhilSys-registered Filipinos in the province as of 30 September 2023.

SGD. DANITES E. TEÑIDO, PhD
Chief Statistical Specialist

/MBL