The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) – La Union Provincial Statistical Office will conduct the quarterly Palay and Corn Production Survey (PCPS) and monthly Palay and Corn Stocks Survey (PCSS) simultaneously on October 1-10, 2021. 

The PCPS is designed to generate estimates on palay and corn production, area harvested, yield and other production-related data.  On the other hand, the PCSS is intended to generate estimates of current stocks of palay, rice, corn grains and corn grits in farm and non-farm households. Data collected from both surveys will support and guide the data needs of planners, policy and decision makers, and other stakeholders especially palay and corn farmers.

The PCPS consists of two national quarterly surveys which are conducted simultaneously. These are the Palay Production Survey (PPS) and Corn Production Survey (CPS).  The PCPS covers sample farming households in sample barangays in the province.   In La Union, there are 280 samples for the PPS and 381 samples for the CPS.  For the PCSS, there are 160 sample farming households and 80 sample non-farming households.  

Hybrid approach of interviewing - a combination of face-to-face and phone interview - using a structured questionnaire will be implemented due to the Coronavirus Disease 209 (COVID-19) pandemic.  The PSA assures the respondents that the Statistical Researchers (SRs) will strictly abide with the health and safety protocols at all phases of field operation as a precautionary measure against COVID-19 such as strict observance of social distancing, wearing of face mask and face shield, and proper hygiene and sanitation.

Meanwhile, the key results for the 2^nd Quarter PCPS in La Union are as follows:

• The volume of palay production in La Union in 2^nd quarter 2021 was recorded at 9,602 metric tons.  This is 2.83 percent lower than the volume of palay production in the province in the same period of 2020 at 9,882 metric tons.

• The area harvested for palay in the province decreased by 2.40 percent from 2,167 hectares in 2^nd quarter 2020 to 2,115 hectares in 2^nd quarter 2021.

• The yield per hectare also declined by 0.44 percent from 4.56 metric tons per hectare in 2^nd quarter 2020 to 4.54 metric tons per hectare in 2^nd quarter 2021.

• The volume of corn production in La Union increased by 0.33 percent in 2^nd quarter 2021 at 11,534.00 metric tons from 11,496.00 metric tons in 2^nd quarter 2020.

• Area harvested for corn in 2^nd quarter 2021 expanded to 2,231.00 hectares from 2,220.00 hectares in 2^nd quarter 2020 or an increase of 0.50 percent.  

• Corn’s yield per hectare dropped by 0.19 percent from 5.18 metric tons per hectare in 2^nd quarter 2020 to 5.17 metric tons per hectare in 2^nd quarter 2021.

The PSA reassures the public that all the data and information to be collected by the SRs are for statistical purposes only and shall not be used for purposes of taxation or investigation. 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