In preparation for the upcoming rollout of the 2024 Census of Population and Community-Based Monitoring System (POPCEN-CBMS) on the 15th of July this year, the Provincial Statistical Office of Pangasinan spearheaded the Household Data Collection and Geotagging Provincial Level Training on 17-22 June 2024 at Pangasinan Regency Hotel, Calasiao Pangasinan.

The trainers from PSO Pangasinan were headed by Chief Statistical Specialist, Mr. Edgar M. Norberte together with Senior Statistical Specialist, Verna M. Palsimon, Statistical Analyst Allen Joy B. Paulo, Information Systems Analyst II Vince Anthony S. Gandol and CBMS Statistical Specialist II Arjel A. Manlongat. Statistical Specialist II Gemaima M. De Guzman of ONS-PMS and Statistical Specialist I Israel B. Agustin of SSO-SSS-CSD from PSA Central Office also served as trainers and facilitators. Guests from the Department of Interior and Local Government – Pangasinan were also present in this activity, they were LGOO VI/Program Manager Calvin Nollie Julius B. Lubrin and LGOO II Julie Anne G. Gutierrez.

The participants of the 6-day training, were the 71 hired Census-CBMS Area Supervisors (CAS) and 17 regular PSO personnel (including Ms. Palsimon and Mr. Paulo) who will serve as Head Census-CBMS Area Supervisors (HCAS) during the operations. Aside from their role in coordination to Local Government Units and supervision of enumerators during data collection, they will also act as the trainers during the City/Municipal Level Trainings thus it is deemed necessary to equip them with the knowledge and skills both in conceptual and technical aspects.

The 1st and last day of the training were done through a plenary session, while for the 2nd until the 5th day the participants were divided into two classes each with their own set of trainers. The participants were taught on the general enumeration procedures, concepts and definitions, geotagging of buildings using tablet and paper maps, accomplishment of POPCEN-CBMS forms using Computer Assisted Personal Interview (CAPI) and Paper and Pen Interview (PAPI), geotagging of buildings using tablet and paper maps, supervision activities and procedures, among others.

Participants were also given a chance to apply their learnings through a mock interview on the last day of the training on which discussions on observations, comments, and suggestions were done afterwards.

The six-day activity concluded through the commitment of all the participants for a successful conduct of City and Municipal Level trainings on 01-06 July for the first batch and 08-13 July for the second batch.

Through 2024 POPCEN-CBMS the government executives and policy and decision makers will have an updated statistics and figures on population and housing data and will ensure that social registries of national government agencies and local government units are comprehensive for evidence-based project development and program implementation.

For further information, please contact the Pangasinan Provincial Statistical Office with telephone numbers (075) 517-4438 and 633-8075, and email address pangasinan@psa.gov.ph. 

EDGAR M. NORBERTE

Chief Statistical Specialist