March 2023 – Calasiao, Pangasinan. The Philippine Statistics Authority – Pangasinan joined the two-day Briefing-Workshop with Stakeholders towards the Compilation of Provincial Product Accounts (PPA) in Ilocos Region last March 20-21, 2023. The workshop was a hybrid set-up where each Provincial Statistical Office (PSO) in Ilocos region had respective onsite venue and was also attended by online participants via Zoom. It was spearheaded by the PSA Regional Statistical Services Office I (RSSO 01) and PSA Central Office (CO).

Pangasinan Provincial Statistical Office held its Briefing-Workshop at The Monarch Hotel in Calasiao, Pangasinan, which was attended by participants from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (DENR-PENRO), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources – National Fisheries Development Center (BFAR-NFDC), Pangasinan Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office (PTCAO), Pangasinan Provincial Agriculture Office (PAgO), Pangasinan Provincial Social Welfare Development Office (PSWDO), and Municipal Planning and Development Offices (MPDOs) of Calasiao and Bayambang. Various C/MPDOs and Business Permit and Licensing Offices (BPLOs) in Pangasinan, along with Pangasinan Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO), also joined the said activity virtually.

The Briefing-Workshop aimed to brief the stakeholders on the System of National Accounts, discuss the importance of the PPA and the data requirements for the compilation of the PPA, and gather feedback on participants' perceptions of the economic situation in the region and its provinces.

During the first day of the activity, Chief Statistical Specialist Juanito Y. Yabes of the Statistical Operations and Coordination Division delivered the opening remarks on behalf of Atty. Sheila O. De Guzman, Regional Director of PSA RSSO I, followed by the message of Deputy National Statistician Divina Gracia Laluan–Del Prado. Meanwhile, Chief Statistical Specialist Florande S. Polistico of the Production Accounts Division (PAD) discussed the introduction of the System of National Accounts (SNA) and PPA. In addition, Senior Statistical Specialist Jovel O. Nabia of PAD, Statistical Specialist II Shiloh Carah E. Pihoc of Subnational Economic Accounts Division (SEAD), and CSS-PAD Florande S. Polistico presented the overview and data requirements by industry.

Subsequently, the workshop was conducted on the second day of the activity, which included (1) an initial assessment of the economic structure and situation of the provinces in the region and (2) data assessment by industry. The output of Pangasinan was presented by PPA Provincial Focal Person Xavier B. Narvas.

Moreover, Ms. Peachy P. Lozada shared her insights regarding the PPA. She said that the compilation of the PPA for the region is very important to every province, for this will become a mechanism to assess the economic performance of the provinces. She also hopes that the data gathered and collected in the compilation of the PPA will be useful in the formulation of plans and programs for the stakeholders, especially in the agriculture and fisheries sector in Pangasinan.

The two-day activity was formally ended by Dr. Danites E. Teñido, CSS of PSO-La Union, delivering her closing remarks. Assistant Regional Director Irenea B. Ubungen of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Region 1 also gave her remarks at the onsite venue in Pangasinan. As she stated, “the said activity is just the start of collaboration between PSA and stakeholders with regards to PPA”.

SGD. EDGAR M. NORBERTE
Chief Statistical Specialist, PSO Pangasinan